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Parliament Resumes After Five-Month Hiatus Amid Renewed Calls for Peace
Juba – Al-Wadi Newspaper
In a formal address to the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan called on armed opposition groups that have rejected the peace agreement to engage in inclusive national dialogue and join the path of reconciliation. He emphasized that the doors to peace remain open to all.
President Kiir’s remarks came during the Assembly’s opening session held yesterday, following a five-month suspension. The resumption has sparked cautious optimism among both domestic and international observers, who hope it signals a turning point for South Sudan’s stalled political and security processes.
“The suffering of our people must not be prolonged by the continued rejection of dialogue by the holdout groups,” said Kiir.
“I extend my hand once again for peace and urge all those who have not yet joined to walk the path of reconciliation, unity, and nation-building.”
He stressed that national unity is the foundation for rebuilding the state and called for the formation of a unified national army by integrating opposition forces committed to peace into the official security apparatus.
A Critical Juncture in the Country’s History
Kiir’s appeal comes at a time when South Sudan faces growing political and security instability, fueled by armed conflict and internal divisions between signatories and non-signatories of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.
Analysts view the president’s speech as a renewed attempt to revive the fragile peace process amid rising public and international pressure to end the impasse and deliver lasting stability.
Eyes on the Holdout Groups
As Parliament resumes its functions, lawmakers are expected to deliberate on several contentious issues, including security sector reform, restructuring of the armed forces, and the constitutional process. Political and diplomatic circles are now closely watching how the holdout groups will respond to Kiir’s call for dialogue.
Observers argue that the response of these groups will be a key indicator of the trajectory of the transitional period—especially as the country approaches crucial national elections in the near future.
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