SSOMA urged to join peace process – Presidency

February 26, 2020 Newsbeat

President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Five Vice-Presidents of the Republic of South Sudan (Photo collage: SSNN)

February 27, 2020 (SSNN)–The Transitional Government of National Unity is appealing to the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA), a coalition comprising of Non-signatory opposition groups, to desist from the rebellion and join the implementation of the peace agreement.

The statement was jointly issued on Tuesday following the conclusion of the first meeting between President Salva Kiir, First Vice-president Dr. Riek Machar and other Vice-presidents of the Transitional Unity Government.

“Finally the Presidency calls out on SSOMA Group to join the peace process. The government expects the upcoming meeting with SSOMA in Rome to produce breakthrough in this process.”

On Monday, the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance issued a press release, welcoming the formation of the unity government and stressing the need for a lasting peace in the country.

“As the signatories of the R-ARCSS embark on the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU), the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) would like to underline the need for a sustainable and just peace in South Sudan,” the statement issued by SSOA stressed.

The group emphasized that without properly addressing the root causes of the conflict, a genuine peace could not be achieved.

“SSOMA would like to reiterate to all the people of South Sudan that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without resolving the root causes of the conflict in the country. A sheer distribution of political positions among the country’s political elites is not going to deliver the dawn of peace.”

“SSOMA would like to assure all its members, supporters, sympathizers, and the people of South Sudan at large that it remains steadfast in the struggle to achieve their aspirations for a just and sustainable peace,” the group said.

Last month, SSOA signed a declaration document hereafter referred to as the Rome Declaration on Peace and the Rome Resolution on the Monitoring and Verification of the CoHA 2017 of 14th February 2020 under the mediation of the Community of Sant’Egidio.