South Sudan’s people call for political fix for conflict

 

By L. Muthoni Wanyeki

Kenyans have watched in horror as the conflict unfolds in South Sudan… Kenyan business people and professionals have been part of the exodus out of the country.

South Sudanese are also streaming across the border. Once again becoming refugees. Estimates are that about 43,000 have crossed over into Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

A further 250,000 are internally displaced. The more fortunate have sought protection within UN compounds — 60,000 IDPs alone within the UN compound in Juba.

The UN and critical member states have acted quickly to support the political process under the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. A surge in police and military personnel will take over responsibilities within UN compounds.

An additional 5,500 personnel are expected to be deployed within four to eight weeks, freeing up military personnel already present for more proactive or “robust” patrolling outside UN compounds.

For the humanitarian effort, from an additional allocation of $15 million and reallocations, about half of the needed $209 million is already available.

Nothing, however, is clear as concerns preventing further loss of life and ongoing human-rights violations. While downplaying problems of co-operation with the Government of South Sudan, the UN’s frustration is coming through.

Further to the Security Council session on South Sudan last week, its briefing was terse. It is “denouncing violations.” It is “not co-operating with either side.” All has changed. The honeymoon with the GOSS is over.

Meanwhile, the Igad Heads of State and Governments signalled a slant in favour of the legitimacy of Salva Kiir’s government and the determination that Riek Machar not benefit from his military adventurism.

But beyond the protagonists, the positions from South Sudanese civil society, including its academics and religious community, are clear. This shouldn’t be happening. That it is happening is entirely political. And political resolution is necessary.

What the South Sudanese are calling for — beyond the obvious need for a ceasefire — is for the negotiations to address the causes of the conflict.

They want the powers of the presidency addressed, including through establishing a fixed term of office, separation of powers and checks and balances. They want both the army and the civil service restructured.

To act in the service of the state, not the Sudanese Peoples’ Liberation Movement and certainly not the two ethnicities instrumentalised within and by them.

They want inclusive national dialogue to follow the Addis Ababa negotiations — if necessary, under a transitional government leading to new elections.

They want that national dialogue to focus on the failure of public service delivery to the South Sudanese given the new state’s internal and external challenges — including unaddressed corruption as well as destabilisation by the North.