Kenyan President William Ruto is set to visit South Sudan on Wednesday to update President Salva Kiir Mayardit on the progress of the South Sudanese peace talks currently being held in Nairobi under his mediation.

Speaking to reporters in Juba on Tuesday, Presidential Press Secretary Lily Martin Manyiel confirmed the visit, describing it as a “working visit” intended to “inform, compare notes, touch base, and update His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit on the peace talks.”

Manyiel clarified that President Ruto’s visit is also aimed at dispelling rumors suggesting President Kiir has lost interest in the Tumaini Initiative—a peace effort intended to bring lasting stability to South Sudan. “His Excellency the President has said on record that on his watch, South Sudan will not go back to war again,” she stated.

She emphasized that President Kiir remains committed to inclusive peace, asserting that “achieving lasting peace requires that all South Sudanese are included and brought on board.”

President Kiir’s ultimate vision, Manyiel added, is to achieve “gun silence forever in South Sudan.” The Tumaini Initiative, led by President Ruto, is an important step toward realizing this goal, and has generated widespread interest among South Sudanese citizens eager for updates on its progress.

In December 2023, President Kiir requested that President Ruto take over the mediation role from the Catholic community of Sant’Egidio in Rome, due to prolonged talks without resolution. Since then, preliminary consultations have been ongoing in Nairobi, with President Ruto appointing General Lazaro Sumbeiywo as chief mediator to facilitate discussions between the government and holdout groups.