Heads of delegation Gen. Kuol Manyang and Pagan Amum co-chair negotiation on Tumaini Initiative. Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo: SSBC)

The government delegation to the Tumaini peace initiative is expected to return to Juba this weekend to take part in the ushering in of the extended transitional period, starting on February 22nd, according to government delegation rapporteur, Martin Elia Lomuro.

He said some government delegation members are part of the National Transitional Committee and High-Level Committee on the implementation of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.

Dr. Martin said the return of the government will not hamper the Tumaini process.

However, he did not mention when the delegation will return to Nairobi for the talks.

Dr. Martin added the parties agreed to expand institutions established in the remaining provisions for the implementation of R-ARCSS, to include the opposition and stakeholders.

“Now that we have agreed to form a committee to fine-tune, harmonize these issues on the root causes. We formed a little committee, and then we moved on to discuss the relationship between Tumaini initiative and the R-ARCSS.

“So the challenge we have addressed is to remove anything that is repeated, anything that is contradictory, institutions that contradict the institutions already established, but we agreed to expand them in order to include our brothers and sisters in the implementation of the remaining provisions that are ongoing or outstanding.

“At that point,  our chair, the head of delegation decided that we would adjourn, and that we would return on Saturday or Sunday because we have a task to do in Juba where the extended transition starts on 22^nd and we have to prepare ourselves to usher in that transition.”

This comes after the mediators scheduled to wind-up the Nairobi-led peace process for South Sudan by Friday.