President Kiir and SSOA Leaders Unite to Discuss Tumaini Peace Initiative and Upcoming Elections

 

President Salva Kiir and SSOA leader. 

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President Kiir today met with leaders of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) to address critical national issues, including the Tumaini Peace Initiative currently being held in Nairobi, Kenya. 

The discussion underscored the importance of unity and collaboration in the lead-up to South Sudan's December 2026 elections.

Josephine Joseph Lagu, Chairperson of SSOA, expressed the coalition's support for the Tumaini Peace Initiative. 

She highlighted SSOA's commitment to dialogue on significant political matters and emphasized the alliance's willingness to strengthen relations with the ruling SPLM party. 

The meeting reflects a collective effort to reinforce political stability in South Sudan as the country works toward sustained peace and prepares for its upcoming elections.

SSOA, an alliance of eight political parties, was one of the key signatories of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, aimed at fostering long-term peace and stability in South Sudan.

NOTE: Tumaini Initiative is a peace-building and reconciliation effort aimed at fostering stability, unity, and long-term peace in conflict-prone regions of East Africa, particularly in South Sudan. 

The word "Tumaini" means "hope" in Swahili, which reflects the initiative's central goal of offering hope and a pathway to sustainable peace for communities affected by conflict.

While the Tumaini Initiative has been linked to various peace processes, it is specifically focused on addressing deep-rooted challenges such as ethnic tensions, social divisions, and the effects of prolonged violence in South Sudan. 

The initiative brings together regional governments, civil society organizations, and international partners to implement strategies that promote dialogue, trust-building, and the reintegration of displaced people.

Given its emphasis on regional collaboration, the Tumaini Initiative also seeks to strengthen diplomatic ties between South Sudan and its neighbors, like Kenya, to create a more stable and secure Horn of Africa region.