South Sudan Peace Talks Stumble Over Detention Bill Dispute

The South Sudan peace negotiations, which were nearing completion, encountered a setback when opposition groups insisted on removing a recently passed bill that allows for the detention of individuals without an arrest warrant before agreeing to sign the proposed agreement.

Since May, Kenya has been hosting important meetings between South Sudan’s government representatives and rebel opposition groups who were not part of the 2018 agreement that ended a five-year civil war, resulting in approximately 400,000 deaths and displacing millions. Despite the previous agreement, violence has continued to erupt in the country of 9 million.

Pagan Amum Okiech, representing the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance, stated to the Associated Press on Tuesday night that signing any agreement would be pointless if President Salva Kiir enacts the severe National Security Act into law.

Last week, parliament voted in favour of the 2015 bill, which President Salva Kiir must approve within 30 days for it to become law, just ahead of the country’s first-ever election on December 22.

“This law violates the basic rights and freedoms of South Sudanese citizens, erasing civic and political space,” said Amum. “Under such a law, there can be no peace or democracy.”

Edmund Yakani, executive director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation, a non-profit engaging university students and recent graduates, criticised the security bill, stating that it had created a negative atmosphere for the negotiations.

Human Rights Watch has also urged President Kiir to reject the contentious bill, warning that it could further undermine human rights and strengthen national security agencies with a history of long-standing abuses.

The talks, known as Tumaini (Swahili for hope), have led to a draft agreement proposing to extend South Sudan’s transitional period and delay the upcoming election. This delay aims to finalise the country’s constitution and electoral laws, establish constituency boundaries, and create a unified security force as outlined in the 2018 peace talks.

Several Western diplomats have also recommended postponing the election “to ensure a free and fair election.”

President Kiir has remained steadfast in his decision to hold the election in December and has challenged the views of these diplomats.

Nancy Mbamalu 

Source: Africanews

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