Activists Renew Push for Inclusive South Sudan Talks
South Sudan’s Civil Society Forum has issued a fresh appeal for a truly inclusive political dialogue, calling on the African Union, IGAD, Nairobi, Juba and global partners to convert supportive statements into coordinated action.
The forum argues that political will, technical expertise and reliable funding are now more decisive than new declarations, stressing that a revitalised framework must emerge before the current transitional timetable slips further.
AU and IGAD Response in Focus
In Juba last month, the AU Peace and Security Council praised calls for wider dialogue yet offered no binding roadmap, a gap civil society views as a risk to coherence among AU, IGAD, the UN and bilateral allies.
Diplomats in Addis Ababa say behind-the-scenes discussions continue, but concede that aligning competing mediation tracks will require “disciplined coordination and sustained financing,” according to a senior AU official who requested anonymity.
Tumaini Initiative Offers a Tested Template
Launched in Nairobi in May, the Tumaini Initiative created space for holdout groups to the 2018 peace accord to air grievances alongside government delegates.
Activists propose expanding its agenda to include emerging issues—the surge in localised violence, shrinking civic space, and anxieties over delayed elections—while preserving Sant’Egidio’s discreet facilitation style that participants describe as “trust-building”.
Civil Society Demands Wider Participation
The Forum insists that youth leaders, women’s associations, academics and faith actors must sit at the negotiating table, not merely observe from the gallery.
To create that environment, it urges authorities to lift remaining travel bans, free political detainees and restore full freedoms of expression and assembly, measures endorsed in multiple UN reports.
Next Steps on the Road to 2024–25 Elections
Analysts warn that the calendar toward national elections is tight; without consensus on security arrangements and a permanent constitution, delays could deepen frustration.
The Civil Society Forum, however, remains optimistic, with spokesperson Simon Deng saying: “Sustained dialogue can still anchor peaceful polls if stakeholders choose action over rhetoric.”