S. Sudan: Light at the End of the Tunnel?

[sudan]

The East African region is hopeful that the positive signals from the leaders of the warring factions in South Sudan can be sustained and Africa’s newest country returned to peace.
Both President Salva Kiir and Dr Riek Machar have of late been consistent in stating their commitment to a peaceful resolution to the political crisis, despite the continued fighting.
The fighters on the ground need positive signals from their leaders so that they can respect the two ceasefire agreement that have both been violated with impunity.
In particular, Dr Machar’s decision to come out of the bush and tour East African capitals for the sake of consultations is encouraging. Both leaders were ready to hold an informal face-to-face meeting in Nairobi, which failed to take place due to some diplomatic hitches.
Thus the leaders of the warring sides in South Sudan have finally acknowledged that peace cannot be realised without a regional effort. Dr Machar has given his proposals for a lasting peace, indicating that he is now ready for serious engagement.
President Kiir has also accepted the reality that the military option cannot work in the current situation.
Other countries from the region now have the opportunity to ensure that the next round of talks, set for Addis Ababa next week, addresses concrete issues. The time for talk about talks is over as South Sudanese continue to die either from bullets or from hunger.
The only remaining challenge for smooth progress of the negotiation is the continued presence of Ugandan troops in South Sudan, contrary to the January 23 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.
The Machar faction continues to perceive Uganda troops as a stumbling block to the peace process, since they believe their presence contributes to Kiir’s hardline position.
EAC fiddling funds? Oh no!
Reports that donors are withholding programme-funds to the East African Community due to alleged mismanagement have come as a shock to everyone who holds regional integration close to their hearts.
Donors support nearly 70 per cent of the Community’s programmes.
The Partnership Fund in particular, which is at the heart of the allegations, supports crucial programmes such the implementation of the Common Market Protocol and the Monetary Union Protocol, which are likely to face undue delays. Some donors are already demanding a refund of some $170,000.
The Secretariat must move with speed to provide audited reports to donors to allow the disbursement of the funds that are currently lying idle.

 

[waltky]

Both sides pointin' the finger at each other...

Fighting erupts again in South Sudan; each side blames the other
Mon Oct 27, 2014 ) - South Sudan government forces and rebel troops clashed in oil-rich Unity State on Monday, President Salva Kiir said, days before the two sides are to hold talks to end a 10-month conflict that has ravaged the world's youngest nation.

Kiir accused the rebels on Monday of violating a ceasefire agreed in May and warned of more attacks by forces loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar. Rebel spokesman Lul Ruai Koang confirmed fighting occurred near the Unity State capital, Bentiu, but denied it was instigated by Machar's troops. More than 1 million people in South Sudan have fled their homes since December, when fighting erupted between troops backing Kiir and soldiers loyal to Machar.

The European Union and the United States have sanctioned commanders from both sides for violating a ceasefire that was signed in January but swiftly crumbled. "There is fighting in Bentiu and we also expect such action to erupt in different parts of Malakal," Kiir told governors in the capital Juba. Malakal is the capital of Upper Nile State, South Sudan's only other oil-producing region. There are conflicting reports as to the location of fighting in the Unity State. United Nations spokesman Joe Contreras said the clashes took place about 30km north of Bentiu, but the state capital was largely quiet.

The violence between the two sides, triggered by a power struggle between the Kiir and Machar, has often followed ethnic faultlines, pitting Kiir's Dinka against Machar's Nuer. Each side has frequently accused the other of ceasefire violations. Rebel spokesman Koang dismissed Kiir's allegations that the rebels were preparing to attack Malakal, a key trading town that has changed hands about six times since the conflict started. "He (Kiir) is only trying to defend his forces by accusing us first, so that when he launches attacks he will blame us instead," Koang said.

The two sides are due to hold a fresh round of talks in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa later this week, though the start date is uncertain yet. Army spokesman Philip Aguer told Reuters the opposition troops were moving towards the oil fields in the Unity State, something the rebels deny doing. Unity State oil fields were damaged during previous bouts of fighting, curtailing output, which stands at about 160,000 barrels per day.

Fighting erupts again in South Sudan each side blames the other Reuters