A major party in South Sudan’s coalition government has suspended its involvement in the peace process due to deteriorating relations between Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir. Clashes have led to arrests of SPLM-IO officials, exacerbating tensions and causing significant displacement. The UN warns of potential civil war with rising hate speech and regional instability contributing to the crisis.
A significant political development has occurred in South Sudan, as a major party within the coalition government has announced its suspension from a critical element of the 2018 peace agreement. This decision arises from deteriorating relations between Riek Machar, the leader of the SPLM-IO party and First Vice President, and President Salva Kiir, particularly following recent violent clashes and arrests.
The peace agreement originally resolved a five-year civil war between the forces loyal to President Kiir and those of Machar. However, recent weeks have witnessed an escalation in hostilities, culminating in clashes in eastern South Sudan. Notably, the government’s security forces detained several SPLM-IO members, including the petroleum minister and the military’s deputy head, as tensions mounted surrounding troop withdrawals from Nasir near the Ethiopian border.
The government has accused the SPLM-IO of affiliations with the White Army, a militia composed largely of Nuer ethnic youths who supported Machar in past conflicts against predominantly Dinka forces. The SPLM-IO has categorically denied these allegations. In response to the arrests, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the SPLM-IO deputy chairman, stated that the party would refrain from participating in security protocols associated with the peace process until the detained officials were released, asserting that “the ongoing political witch-hunts continue to threaten the very essence and the existence of the (peace deal).”
The violence in the Nasir region has resulted in significant humanitarian consequences, displacing approximately 50,000 individuals since late February, with around 10,000 seeking refuge in Ethiopia. The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, Anita Kiki Gbeho, highlighted the severity of this crisis and its impact on the local population.
Nicholas Haysom, the United Nations peacekeeping chief in South Sudan, expressed alarm at the nation’s potential regression into civil conflict. He underscored the increasing prevalence of hate speech and misinformation, which may escalate tensions to an ethnic level. Analysts attribute the failure of the peace process in part to the ongoing war in neighboring Sudan, which has led to decreased oil revenue for South Sudan and heightened regional tensions, allowing arms trafficking across borders.
Alan Boswell from the International Crisis Group warned that the spillover effects from the conflict in Sudan are becoming evident, particularly with tensions rising in the Upper Nile area. He cautioned that these tensions could extend to the capital, Juba, making stability increasingly difficult to maintain.
In conclusion, the SPLM-IO’s withdrawal from the peace process signifies troubling developments in South Sudan, characterized by a breakdown in relations between leadership figures and increasing violence. The urgent release of detained officials and the management of escalating ethnic tensions are crucial to preserving the fragile peace established by the 2018 agreement. The ongoing humanitarian crisis further complicates this situation and demands immediate attention.
Original Source: www.thestar.com.my
