At this critical moment in our nation’s history, we feel compelled to speak plainly and honestly. We call upon the people of South Sudan, the opposition forces, the civil society, the youth, the women, and the diaspora to reject the so-called Tumaini dialogue being held in Kenya.
Though it is presented under the language of peace and dialogue, this process does not offer a genuine pathway to ending the suffering of our people or resolving the root causes of our national crisis.
South Sudan has endured years of war, political betrayal, economic collapse, displacement, hunger, and systematic repression. Millions of our citizens remain internally displaced or living as refugees.
Communities continue to face insecurity, poverty, and hopelessness. In such a context, any initiative claiming to pursue peace must be judged, not by its name or rhetoric, but by its intent, structure, and outcomes. By these standards, Tumaini fails.
The Tumaini dialogue is a waste of time, resources, and public trust. It consumes attention and energy while offering no clear mechanism for accountability, no guarantee of inclusivity, and no commitment to addressing the fundamental drivers of conflict in South Sudan.
A dialogue that merely reshuffles political elites, postpones change, and preserves the status quo cannot be described as peacebuilding. It is a political trap disguised as reconciliation.
We must be honest: not all dialogue is meaningful, and not all peace talks lead to peace.
History has taught South Sudanese painful lessons about agreements signed without sincerity, processes driven by external interests, and negotiations that prioritize political survival over the lives of ordinary citizens. Tumaini risks becoming yet another chapter in this long pattern of failure.
To the opposition forces, we say this clearly: Do not legitimize a process that undermines the very people you claim to represent. Participation in a flawed dialogue that lacks credibility does not strengthen the struggle for change; it weakens it.
When opposition leaders engage in empty processes, they risk becoming part of the machinery that sustains injustice rather than dismantles it. True peace cannot be achieved through cosmetic talks that avoid difficult truths. It cannot be built without accountability for past and ongoing crimes, without genuine political change, and without the meaningful participation of the people most affected by the conflict.
A process that ignores victims, silences the grassroots voices, and shields those responsible for violence is not a peace initiative—it is an insult. To the youth of South Sudan, who carry the heaviest burden of this crisis, we urge vigilance and courage. You have grown up in war, unemployment, and uncertainty, yet you continue to demand dignity and a future.
Do not allow your hopes to be manipulated by slogans and staged dialogues. Peace is not declared in conference halls; it is built through justice, opportunity, and freedom.
To the women who have borne the pain of displacement, violence, and the collapse of social structures, your voices must not be tokenized or excluded. Any genuine peace process must place women at its center—as decision-makers. Tumaini does not meet this standard.
To the civil society, faith leaders, intellectuals, and community leaders, this is a moment to speak truth to power. Silence in the face of deception only prolongs suffering. South Sudan needs principled leadership that refuses to endorse false solutions and instead insists on a credible, people-centered path forward.
To the South Sudanese diaspora, your role remains vital. You are witnesses, advocates, and bridges to the international community. Use your platforms to challenge narratives that portray Tumaini as progress when it is not. Demand transparency, accountability, and genuine change, not recycled political theater.
Let us be clear: rejecting Tumaini does not mean rejecting peace. On the contrary, it means demanding a process worthy of the name—one that is inclusive, honest, and rooted in the aspirations of the people. It means refusing to accept delays disguised as dialogue and injustice repackaged as compromise.
South Sudan deserves more than endless talks with no results. Our people deserve safety, dignity, and a future free from fear. They deserve a political system that serves the nation rather than a few individuals. They deserve leaders who listen, change, and take responsibility.
We therefore call for a credible, transparent, and inclusive peace process that: Addresses the root causes of conflict, ensures accountability and justice, includes the victims, the youth, women, and civil society, commits to genuine political and institutional change, and places the suffering and the aspirations of the people at its core. Anything less is unacceptable.
The suffering of South Sudanese citizens must never be used as a bargaining chip or a cover for political convenience. The people are watching. History will remember who stood for truth and who chose comfort over courage.
We urge all South Sudanese, at home and abroad, to stand firm, reject the Tumaini dialogue, and demand a real path to lasting peace—not another illusion.
South Sudan’s future must be built on truth, justice, and the will of its people. Nothing else will bring genuine peace.
Denis Doggale can be reached at: ddoggale1@gmail.com
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.