South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party has called for unity within the transitional coalition government delegation in the Nairobi peace talks.

“Our position is that the R-TGoNU [Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity] delegation is one team representing the Government regardless of their different parties,” said Peter Lam Both, Secretary General of the ruling SPLM Party.

Lam’s statement on Friday comes amidst tensions and divergent views following the withdrawal of the SPLM-IO from the Nairobi Tumaini Initiative, a move he criticized as rendering the new peace efforts ineffective.

“If there are concerns as raised by the SPLM-IO chairman Dr. Riek Machar, it requires the team to discuss and bring it to the signatories to R-ARCSS [ Revitalized Agreement],” Both added, referring to the 2018 peace deal between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar.  

“It is only then that they can decide to take a unilateral action if such decision goes against what they feel is genuine. There is no way the implementation process can be done in Juba by some of the members of the revitalized government leaving one political party out.”

SPLM-IO, led by Riek Machar, withdrew from the Nairobi peace talks between the transitional unity government and the holdout groups earlier this week in Kenya, citing concerns that the talks undermined the 2018 peace agreement and South Sudan’s sovereignty. The move exacerbates divisions between the factions loyal to Machar and President Salva Kiir, further complicating the implementation of the fragile peace deal.

Lam underlined the need for a unified approach among the parties to the transitional government, underscoring the critical role of collaboration in achieving lasting peace in the country.

Earlier this week, the transitional government and some opposition groups in Nairobi signed eight protocols addressing various critical issues, including security, ceasefire, communal violence, arms proliferation, land disputes, trust-building, humanitarian access, and the role of guarantors. However, the proposed National Leadership Council (NLC) has emerged as a contentious issue, with SPLM-IO expressing concerns over its potential to overshadow constitutional bodies.

“Our proposal is that the government team should return to Juba to meet the Presidency and explain some of the items they initialed in the protocols so that a collective decision can be taken,” Lam suggested.

The Nairobi talks continue to face challenges amid differing interpretations and priorities among the factions.

Peace negotiations between the South Sudan government and some holdout groups were launched in Kenya on May 9.

The mediation is led by former Kenya army commander Lazarus Sumbeiywo, who also mediated the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 which gave Southern Sudan autonomy and later led to a referendum for independence in 2011.

In December 2023, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir requested his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto to take over the mediation from the Community of Sant’Egidio in Rome, complaining that the talks had taken long in Rome’s hands without resolution.