STORY: Kenyan, South Sudanese lobby groups pledge support for peace talks
SHOOTING TIME: Sept. 2, 2024
DATELINE: Sept. 3, 2024
LENGTH: 0:02:39
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. Various of the exterior of the press conference
2. Various of the launching of banners
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): RAJAB MOHANDIS, Representative of People's Coalition for Civil Action
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): NAGOMORO BRIDGET, Representative at Nairobi talks
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CYPRIAN NYAMWAMU, Executive Director of Future of Kenya Foundation

STORYLINE:

Representatives of civil society organizations from Kenya and South Sudan on Monday pledged support for the ongoing peace talks in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. The talks aim to bring lasting stability to the world's youngest republic.

The Nairobi peace talks, also known as the Tumaini (Hope) Initiative, have been taking place since May. These talks bring together representatives of South Sudan's Transitional Government of National Unity with members of opposition groups and civil society.

Parties to the Tumaini Initiative have already signed a pact reiterating their commitment to lasting peace, stability, and inclusive growth in South Sudan, which descended into civil strife in December 2013.

Rajab Mohandis, a delegate to the Nairobi peace talks and representative of the People's Coalition for Civil Action, said that South Sudan deserves a new dawn after enduring more than a decade of civil strife.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): RAJAB MOHANDIS, Representative of People's Coalition for Civil Action
"Our country, South Sudan, has been at war for 11 years of its 13 years of independence. The conflict has caused political instability, serious insecurity, economic meltdown, and dire humanitarian crisis. So peace in South Sudan is an urgent demand for all our citizens."

South Sudan President Salva Kiir requested in December 2023 for his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto to assume the lead role in mediating peace talks. This responsibility was formerly held by the Community of Sant'Egidio, which is based in Rome, Italy.

Nagomoro Bridget, a female representative at the Nairobi talks, said that success will depend on goodwill, mutual trust, sincerity, and a spirit of compromise from all parties.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): NAGOMORO BRIDGET, Representative at Nairobi talks
"Representing the women on the ground who are the most vulnerable and the local ones in the villages... I would say they are the most suffering people on the ground, because we don't have permanent peace. And because of that, that's what we advocate for. We thank you for stepping in. We need permanent peace for them to stay at peace with the children, and also to be able to nurture children and family with psychological peace and an environment around them to help them come up well."

Cyprian Nyamwamu, executive director of the Future of Kenya Foundation -- a Nairobi-based rights and governance lobby -- said that financial and technical support from regional blocs and the international community is crucial for the Tumaini Initiative.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CYPRIAN NYAMWAMU, Executive Director of Future of Kenya Foundation
"The work that's needed to be done in South Sudan is going to need massive support: technical support, material and financial support, and strategic support."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)