SSUF leader General Paul Malong (left) and NAS's General Thomas Cirillo. (Photo: Courtesy).

President Salva Kiir on Thursday reiterated his call on exiled leaders of the opposition groups which are outside the 2018 revitalized agreement to join the peace process in the country.

Kiir made the remarks during the closing of the Conference on Transitional Justice System in Juba on Thursday morning.

He said the journey of peace, reconciliation and healing should also include those who have not signed the peace deal.

“I want to repeat my call on my brothers and sisters; the non-signatories to the agreement to join us in the journey of peace, reconciliation and healing. This country is a great country and there is enough for all of us to enjoy, our people need all of us,” Kiir said.

In August 2022, President Salva Kiir made a similar appeal to the non-signatories to rejoin the peace process to end conflicts in the country.

Kiir said the government is committed to the Rome peace talks, adding that all the parties should take the peace deal seriously.

Different armed groups which are outside the 2018 peace agreement, have been engaged in talks with the unity government in Rome, Italy.

The coalition in talks with the unity government known as South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA), includes the National Salvation Front led by General Thomas Cirilo, South Sudan United Front of General Paul Malong, and the Real-SPLM of Pagan Amum, among others.

Saint’Egidio Catholic Community in Rome started the mediation between the government and the South Sudan Opposition Alliance in November 2019.

The Rome talks aim at supporting an inclusive peace agreement in South Sudan, by persuading the non-signatories to join the revitalized peace deal signed in September 2018.

The Rome negotiations were supposed to resume this month.

In March 2023, the Community of Sant’Egidio in Rome, Italy adjourned the engagement to May, after the parties differed over the meeting agenda.