Kenya’s GEN LAZARUS SUMBEIYWO was in May recalled from retirement to lead the mediation between the government of South Sudan and the hold-out groups. He talks about the progress and challenges of the Nairobi Mediation, commonly known as the Tumaini Initiative. 

Why is the government delegation that went to Juba for consultations taking too long, and what is the current state of Tumaini?

They are still consulting their rank and file on the nine protocols we have completed so far. As you know, mediation operates through back channels of diplomacy and the fact that they have taken too long does not mean things are not moving. We already have a draft agreement and a draft implantation matrix which they have to explain to their members and that takes time. However, we are expecting them next week so that we can finalise the protocol on Responsibility Sharing and finally sign the agreement in November. 

There have been concerns that the extension of the transitional government by 24 months without the input of Tumaini could upset the talks. Comment?

There should be reason for concern because Tumaini could have also proposed an extension. After all, the country was not ready to hold elections in December so it was necessary to extend. You know the mandate of the government was to come to an end on September 22 and so the country had no choice. The only challenge is that it should have been done after consultations with all stakeholders. so they had to extend. While the extension is a challenge, we now have a government we can talk to and which has a legal basis.

Is Tumaini the answer to the conflicts in South Sudan and what are some of its strengths?

We believe that Tumaini will end the culture of transition in South Sudan and move towards constitutionalism. South Sudan has tried many agreements without success, but the people are increasingly realizing that they can’t spend all their lives running to other countries. People have realised that they have to take care of their country.

It will depend on the South Sudanese whether they will embrace Tumaini or not., but we strongly believe it is the panacea for peace. It will mark an end to living in agreements and perpetual transitions –which is akin to emergencies—to living with a permanent constitution

What is unique with Tumaini is that the implementation matrix will be done by the top leadership as opposed to commissions and committees. Again, the protocol on peace and security will be implemented at the grassroots before moving to the national level.

South Sudan has been suffering from a trust deficit which has affected the reunification of forces and security sector reforms. How is Tumaini planning to get the leaders to trust each other?

Human beings by nature believe only after seeing results. It is a fact that there is a lack of trust which was witnessed at the initial stages of negotiations where the groups were hostile to each other. But things have improved and that is why we have a protocol on Confidence and Trust Building. Once the agreement is signed, we will travel to South Sudan to try and build trust among the leaders and communities.

You were also the lead mediator of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that was signed in 2005.  What is the difference between then and now?

There is not much difference because both of them were a result of conflict. However, the current conflict is not driven by ideology as was the case before 2005 when the parties differed on the basis of religion, which was used as cover to marginalise the Southerners.

Currently, the differences are based on resources and the power struggle, in which ethnicity is again being used to advance the political ambitions of individuals.

In 2005, we made the mistake of trusting Khartoum to implement the agreements on Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile and Abyei, which are yet to be implanted to date. In Tumaini, we have guarantors in Igad, the African Union, and the UN in case the protocols are not being implemented. The process has attracted a lot of interest from the international community and even the Troika which did not guarantee the 3018 peace agreement, is keen on offering support in the implementation.

What is your view on the postponement of the elections that were to be held in December?

The mistake most people make is that they assume that South Sudan is just like any other African country, it is not. These are people who have fought for over 50, with many having lived most of their lives in the bush.

In that case, a country like South Sudan needs a consensus because elections are not a panacea for peace. It was not possible to hold elections while more than 1.5 million people were internally displaced, and over 2 million were scattered across the region as refugees. The country first needs to conduct a census, establish an electoral process and enact a permanent constitution. That is why a permanent constitution is one of the pillars of Tumaini.

People think that elections must be done at all costs, given that the country needs serious civic education. South Sudan is awash with firearms in the wrong hands, and Tumaini is proposing that all the armed forces surrender to the government.

BIO

Born in 1947 in Elgeyo Marakwet County

Education: After his Form Four examinations he listed in the army and was eventually trained at the world-famous Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in the United Kingdom

Employment: Sumbeiywo was first posted to the Kenya Army’s 1st Battalion Kenya Rifles in Lanet as Second Lieutenant. He would later become the Military Assistant to the Chief of General Staff.

One of the watershed moments of his life in the army was being among those who went to rescue former president Daniel arap Moi from his home in Kabarak after the 1982 coup attempt

Sumbeiywo later became the Director of Military Intelligence, a unit he built from scratch.

In 1993 he formed the External Military Intelligence at Moi’s request.

In 1999 he was appointed Commandant of the Defence Staff College and the following year he was assigned to the post of Army Commander on a four-year contract.

He retired in 2003 after 35 years in the military but retained his job as the mediator of the Sudan peace process.

In May 2024, President William Ruto appointed him as the chief mediator in the Tumaini Initiative