By Peter Gai Manyuon
January 4, 2015 (SSNA) — The complexity of the South Sudan conflict has gone to another level that needs emergency response from the world and the African continent respectively. There have been many discussions here and there in the Ethiopians Capital Addis-Ababa between the Government of South Sudan and the Sudan People Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM/IO) under the Leadership of Dr Riek Machar Teny. Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have tried and still trying to bring together both parties of South Sudan conflict and nothing is being achieve up to now due to the fact that, most of the African Leaders and International Community have taken the issue as the ground for employment opportunity to the jobless people in the develop countries, instead they should advocate for the peaceful resolution and reconciliation among the South Sudanese people. What a shame?
In other ward, some people (Clicks) within the government officials in Juba do not want peace to come to South Sudan as well some elements in the Opposition are trying to advocate for an interest which is individualistic in nature. Those in the government under President Kiir leadership are too allergic to the peaceful resolution to the conflict. Both parties are just aiming for their interests not the interest for South Sudanese people. The question is; what do we do as the indigenous citizens of South Sudan?
Despite the huge numbers of the people who got killed in Juba, Malakal, Bor and Bentiu respectively both parties of the conflict do not think of the future of the people of South Sudan rather the focus is only who should get what at the end of the day between the supporters of President Kiir Mayardit and Dr Riek Machar supporters respectively.
However, since the crisis emerged in the Country, most of the projects money are channeled to the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and nothing is being possible up to date. Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is becoming a business organization that is being run by all political sycophants, lumpens and extractive leaders who are too corrupts and criminals in nature. The legitimacy of IGAD to address conflicts in the greater Lakes Region has been twisted to commercialization.
Hence, each and every month, there are roundtable discussions and nothing is resolve due to the selfish interest of the other Communities in the world and most of the South Sudanese people do not realize what is being boiled and accelerated by the group of opportunists in the globe regarding the South Sudan issue. It has taken year and some days now, since the crisis started in the Republic of South Sudan and no good mechanism is put in place by the International Community to resolve the crisis. Countries like China and Russia are the one trying to complicate South Sudan problem by exporting/selling arms of mass destruction to the two warring parties of conflict.
Obviously, there is hidden agenda by some of International Community and it could be good for other to do the needful for the peaceful resolution of South Sudan conflict whereby at the end accountability and indictment of the criminals who committed crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide should commence or start immediately.
The opportunists have the view that, if the South Sudan conflict is resolve then there will be no way for them to benefits from the resources within the Country. Furthermore, different foreign companies that deal in oil sector in South Sudan are giving support to the both parties of the conflicts that are the opposition group and the government group. Chinese government as well, have declared/continue supporting the two groups in transporting arms that consists of ; arms of mass destruction, nuclear weapons and chemical weapons that were used in the fight between Jonglei/Bor and Juba early 2014.
More interestingly, Government of the Republic of Uganda is always supporting the government of South Sudan in term of human and materialistic support since the crisis emerged in the Republic of South Sudan on December 15th 2013. Egyptians, Sudanese rebels and M27 of Congo have been fighting alongside the South Sudan Government forces. The all scenario about these groups of troops in South Sudan are only looking for the resources of the newest nation and the people of South Sudan within the government do not see the impact but rather focusing on the individualistic earning of the wealth.
Key Recommendations
- International Community should come up with another mechanism to resolve the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan through giving ultimatum to the warring parties.
- Europeans Union, USA should withdraw their financial support from Inter-governmental Authority on the Development (IGAD) since the mandate of the Organization has been change to be for benefits purposes. All the money from International Community can be allocated to different body that can bring peace to the newest nation. IGAD is becoming like a business company formed for the purpose to accomplish corruption cases and dictatorial tendencies.
In conclusion, for the crisis of South Sudanese to come to an end unless the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mandate should be reverse or the position of the peace talks should be either taken to Khartoum or Eritrea and if the parties will not accept then, some leaders within East African are the part of the problem.
The author is an Independent Journalist and Columnist who has written extensively on the issues of Democratization processes and Human Rights in South Sudan. He can be contact onindependentjournalistpgm@gmail.comorwww.independentjournalistpgm.wordpress.com.