Peace talks fail in South Sudan

Peace talks in South Sudan broke down last Friday (6th March) following months of negotiations.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep discontent after troubled talks to end bloodshed and fighting in South Sudan broke off without a deal. Friday's adjournment was the latest impasse in negotiations over the world's youngest country where a political row between President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar triggered a conflict that has killed and injured thousands. 

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appealed for a resumption of the peace talks, "he strongly urged both parties to refrains from any attempt to escalate the conflict." US State Department deputy spokesman Marie Harf issued a sharp rebuke; "we strongly condemn the lack of political leadership to resolve this man-made conflict that has extracted a terrible cost over the past nearly 15 months." 

South Sudanese officials claimed that the peace talks hit a deadlock after the opposition made impossible demands. Although the government was aware of key demands, the opposition came up with more demands. According to Vice President Igga, the opposition demanded the release of the African Union commission of inquiry about the conflict, recognition of the two armed forces in the country during the transitional period, dissolution and reconstitution of the national parliament to expand to the state and county levels including a provision that obliges the government to pay for debts incurred by the opposition while fighting the government and wanted federalism adopted during the transitional period. 

The rebels demanded the dissolution of the country’s constitutional review and election commissions and those officials who will run these two institutions should be newly appointed. They want the national elections commission to be jointed managed and run by the transitional government and the United Nations. “In the wealth sharing, the opposition demanded creation of generation funds, community funds for where the resources are sourced and produced. They demanded more for states where resources are produced,” said Igga.

With the failure of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mediation, the real question is what to be done to encourage parties to continue pursuing the option of peace instead of war. According to some analysts, war is the only option available to the warring parties. With dry season and apparent military preparation of the warring parties for the dry season, one expects escalation of fighting, particularly around the oilfields areas of Upper Nile and Unity States. There will be more human suffering, displacement and increased food insecure population or even famine if humanitarian access is restricted.

Besides this increased human suffering, the targeted sanctions of UN on individuals obstructing peace will now be enforced. Although these sanctions will target individuals, they will indirectly affect the people of South Sudan if individuals affected hold key positions in the government. However, experience from previous sanctions imposed by UN or USA shows the difficulties in implementing them and in most cases they tend to harm more the normal citizens.