President Salva Kiir. (Photo: Office of the President).

President Salva Kiir calls on parties to the Tumaini Initiative in Nairobi to embrace compromise on positions in order to successfully conclude the peace process expected to resume on January 6, 2025.

In his new year address, the President said his government has made real progress in implementing the 2018 peace agreement although elections were postponed in September 2024.

Kiir said the adjournment of what would have been South Sudan’s first elections was due to practical reasons, including the economic hardship in the country. He said the government was unable to fund implementation of key provisions of the agreement.

He however added that the progress in the peace implementation will lay a solid ground for the conduct of peaceful and credible elections in December 2026.

President Kiir further gave an assurance that 2025 will be a year of unity of purpose toward comprehensive peace, adding that peace is the uncontested factor for the survival of the country.

He confirmed that the Tumaini Initiative peace negotiation will resume in January 6, and called on “our brothers in the opposition to show patriotism and put the interest our country first.”

“We are in a transitional government made up of parties 10 the agreement. I do not foresee it just to leave any party behind, nor isolate some of the existing parties to the agreement,” Kiir said.

“I implore us to compromise, to accommodate all the parties for the time has come where leadership is needed more than politics. Politics is casted on positions seeking and self-interest; but leadership is about vision for a better tomorrow, for the next generation.”

President Kiir commended the peace parties for reaching a consensus on the government extension, adding that they chose leadership over politics.

“We have proven to the world that we can provide South Sudanese solutions to South Sudanese problems. We might be slow in implementation, but sure in our determination to holding on t0 peace.”