South Sudan, Kenya Leaders Resume Peace Talks

Kenyan President William Ruto and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir have agreed to resume peace negotiations in Nairobi as part of the Tumaini Initiative, focusing on unresolved issues in the South Sudan peace process. The leaders, who met in Juba, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and directed their mediation team to resolve outstanding matters within two weeks. Progress has been made with nine protocols agreed upon, although concerns remain regarding a new security law that allows detention without warrants, raising fears of potential human rights abuses. Additionally, South Sudan has postponed its elections from December 2023 to 2025 to facilitate the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement, which has yet to be fully realized. The country is also facing an economic crisis, with civil servants unpaid for nearly a year due to disrupted oil exports. The resumption of talks highlights the urgency of addressing these challenges to stabilize South Sudan and promote sustainable peace.