Suspicion threatens IGAD’s role in South Sudan conflict
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December 30, 2013 (JUBA) – As the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development (IGAD) member countries try to end nearly three weeks of
conflict in South Sudan, some of its leaders have been accused of
actions that could worsen the situation.
JPEG - 27 kb
President Uhuru Kenyatta prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn and
President Yoweri Museveni at the IGAD meeting on December 27, 2013
(Photo: PSCU)
The latest accusation comes as regional leaders try to broker a peace
deal between South Sudan’s Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek
Machar, ahead of their Tuesday meeting in the capital, Juba.
On Friday, leaders from the IGAD countries held special discussions on
the South Sudan situation in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi and resolved
that both parties in the conflict immediately cease ongoing
hostilities and embrace dialogue.
Sources privy to the close-door talks, also hinted on the possibility
of a power-sharing deal between government and the opposition, as
regional leaders seek to restore peace and stability in the new
nation.
MIXED REACTIONS
IGAD’s involvement, some activists and politicians say, will not
quickly bring to an end South Sudan’s current conflict, citing what
they called “double standards” from its leaders like Uganda’s Yoweri
Museveni, now in Juba for tomorrow’s meeting.
“[Museveni treats the leaders of IGAD like his children. They did not
question what he meant by ‘his country’s efforts in securing critical
infrastructure and installations in the Republic of South Sudan’,”
said Peter Adwok Nyaba in response to resolutions from the Nairobi
summit.
Nyaba, a former minister for higher education, was among the 11 senior
South Sudanese politicians detained in connection with the alleged
coup attempt in the country, before his release on Friday.
He further alleged that Uganda has nearly 3,000 troops and some war
planes now involved in the country’s conflict, a claim Ugandan army
officials dismissed.
“It was about time the civil society started to make noise although
this will not stop the conflict as long as it is viewed in terms of
Dinka-Nuer dichotomy,” said the ex-minister.
The IGAD leaders, he added, have failed to secure release of the
detained SPLM politicians, yet forging way for dialogue.
But, in an interview with Sudan Tribune last week, Paddy Ankunda, the
spokesperson of the Ugandan army (UPDF) said their forces were only in
South Sudan to rescue Ugandans trapped in the violence.
More than 1,000 people are feared dead and tens of thousands left
homeless after violence, which initially started in the capital, Juba,
spontaneously spread to three of the country’s 10 states.
South Sudan leader, Salva Kiir blames his former vice-president for
the violence, while the latter downplayed it as a ploy by government
to crack down on opposition in the ruling party (SPLM).
A South Sudanese civil society entity said IGAD and peace advocates
across the globe should first push for immediate agreement on
ceasefire and ensure political dialogue takes place between the
conflicting parties without delay.
“Citizens of South Sudan want nothing apart from ceasefire and
political dialogue so as to end the violent conflict that is claiming
lives of South Sudanese innocent citizens”, Community Empowerment for
Progress Organisation (CEPO) said in a statement.
Scores of world leaders have, meanwhile, welcomed the IGAD-initiated
talks, seen as key in resolving the current turmoil in the country.
Catherine Ashton, the vice-president of the European Union Commission,
pledged the institution’s firm support to effort of the African Union
and IGAD towards ending the conflict in the country.
“We will continue our efforts set to relieve the humanitarian
suffering”, Ashton said, but stressed that only South Sudan’s own
political leaders can bring the country back to the path of peace.
Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General on Saturday welcomed the work of
East African countries in peacefully resolving the ongoing conflict in
South Sudan, offering his "full support" to the regional efforts.
"The secretary-general welcomes the outcome of the Intergovernmental
Authority on Development (IGAD) Summit held on 27 December, appointing
a mediation team to work with the government of South Sudan and
opposition in reaching a cease fire, the release of the detainees and
building toward a process of peaceful dialogue," he said in a
statement extended to Sudan Tribune.
The world body, Ki Moon assured, will continue to do everything within
its means to protect the country’s civilians at risk and provide
necessary humanitarian assistance.
(ST)
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