November 18th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union (AU) have been urged to end the ongoing South Sudan conflict which has killed and displaced many since its eruption in December 2013.
Parties to the conflict signed a revitalized version of a 2015 peace agreement in September last year. The agreement called for the formation of a unity government but the parties have postponed that action several times because actions which come as conditions for its formation have not been implemented.
A recent extension by President Salva Kiir and main armed opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar has angered the world and some internal political groups who wanted the government formed on November 12th as extended from a May deadline.
Speaking to Nyamilepedia on Sunday, South Sudan opposition figure and leader of South Sudan STEPS Toward Peace and Democracy Suzanne Jambo urged the regional bloc, IGAD which mediated the 2018 peace agreement, and AU to end the conflict.
“The time has come for the ongoing 2013-todate conflict to be resolved. That’s what the AU, IGAD heads of states, the UN & the world community must adopt, this conflict must be given and ultimatum to end,” she said.
“Once that attitude is taken seriously instead of the current watching idly is giving room for feuding parties to continue unabated,” she added.
Jambo said the world and the region must take concrete steps in ending the country’s conflict including but not limited to pressuring the parties who have shown little political will to end what is believed to be the continent’s most devastating conflict.
“Several things must be taken into consideration; a timeline or ultimatum to end the conflict by exerting pressure on all feuding parties. Equally by closely examining what are the real issues or factors impeding there implementation such as guarantees,” she said.
The opposition leader said IGAD knows exactly what is preventing peace in South Sudan blaming it for watching saying it has not been exerted the much needed pressure on the parties to end the war.
“IGAD countries have been involved in mediating the South Sudan conflict since early 2014. IGAD already knows the full file and matters of the conflict, IGAD however, has not been exerting enough pressure, for example monitoring the peace implementation progress,” she said.
“This laxity from the IGAD countries is perhaps the one major factor of failure by IGAD mediators as it has increasingly frustrated the South Sudanese people who continue to be at the mercy of the sky; the war rages on, they’re away from their homes, many continue to be internally displaced as well as refugees in neighboring nations, living an uncertain life generally for more than 6 years, and an ailing economy which is affecting everyone in South Sudan. Something has to give in.
“Both leaders President Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar continuous demands for two extensions so far and lack of committing to the peace accord provisions manifest either a lack of political will to resolve the conflict or a serious weakness from UGAD countries. Pressure must be exerted to fulfill and act timely.”
