A major party in South Sudan has suspended its participation in the peace process due to worsening relations between its leader Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir, amidst recent clashes and arrests. The situation has led to significant displacement and rising tensions in the region, with concerns about a possible resurgence of civil conflict.
A prominent political entity in South Sudan’s coalition government has declared its suspension from a significant aspect of the 2018 peace agreement. This decision follows a deterioration in relations between Riek Machar, the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) and President Salva Kiir, amid recent violence and arrests.
Originally intended to conclude a protracted five-year civil conflict between Kiir’s and Machar’s factions, the agreement is now under threat. Tensions have escalated following skirmishes in Eastern South Sudan. Recently, security forces detained several SPLM-IO leaders, including the petroleum minister and the military’s deputy chief, after ethnic militia, known as the White Army, compelled military forces to retract from Nasir, a town near the Ethiopian border.
The SPLM-IO faces accusations from the government regarding its alleged associations with the White Army, which predominantly consists of armed Nuer youth who allied with Machar’s forces during the previous conflict against Kiir’s Dinka troops. The SPLM-IO refutes these claims.
Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the deputy chair of the SPLM-IO, announced that the party would abstain from security arrangements pertaining to the peace process until the arrested officials are released. He emphasized that the current political persecution jeopardizes the integrity and sustainability of the peace agreement.
Reports indicate that violence near Nasir has resulted in the displacement of 50,000 individuals, with approximately 10,000 seeking refuge in Ethiopia, as noted by Anita Kiki Gbeho, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan.
Nicholas Haysom, the UN peacekeeping chief for South Sudan, expressed his apprehension regarding the nation’s precarious position, suggesting it is edging closer to a resurgence of civil conflict. He warned that the rampant dissemination of misinformation and hate speech heightens the risk of ethnic strife.
Analysts also assert that the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan has contributed to the collapse of the peace process, as diminished oil revenues exacerbate regional unrest and facilitate the influx of arms. Alan Boswell from the International Crisis Group remarked on the emerging spillover violence from Sudan, indicating a significant risk of these tensions escalating in the South Sudanese capital, Juba.
In summary, a major party in South Sudan’s coalition government has withdrawn from crucial peace process elements due to escalating tensions between its leader and the President. The suspension stems from recent violence, arrests of opposition officials, and ongoing allegations of affiliations with ethnic militias. The situation has led to widespread displacement and raised concerns about the potential for renewed civil war fueled by misinformation and regional instability.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
