South Sudan’s vice president remarked on Thursday that peace negotiations in Kenya have disregarded the country’s 2018 peace agreement, suggesting that a newly proposed draft aims to supplant the original accord.

Riek Machar conveyed his concerns in a formal letter to the mediator of the talks, noting that the draft proposes alternative institutions that could replace or operate alongside those established under the previous peace deal. He emphasized that the current peace discussions should complement rather than undermine the original agreement.

In 2018, Machar, a former rebel leader, signed a peace agreement with President Salva Kiir, ending a devastating five-year civil war that claimed approximately 400,000 lives. Following the agreement, Machar was appointed vice president despite his group not being included in the current talks, which involve factions not party to the 2018 agreement.

Despite the peace deal, South Sudan continues to experience violence, largely attributed to rebel groups and ethnic conflicts. The body tasked with overseeing the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement expressed concerns in May about the slow progress in election-related tasks, with only a few months remaining until the December elections.

Opposition groups excluded from the 2018 peace agreement have been engaged in talks in Kenya since May 9, aimed at integrating these groups ahead of the upcoming elections. The discussions have produced a draft agreement recommending an extension of the transitional period to allow sufficient time for election preparations.

President Kiir received a progress report on Thursday from government representatives participating in the ongoing talks. The government spokesperson informed the media that the participants are nearing a final agreement.