Why S. Sudan ceasefire deal matters for region

From right: South Sudanese politician Taban Deng Gai, Intergovernmental Authority on Development envoy Seyoum Mesfin, Ethiopian Foreign minister Tedros Adhanom, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement member Nhial Deng Nhial, and chief mediator Lazaro Sumbeiywo sign a ceasefire agreement on Thursday. PHOTO | AFP 

By Athumani Mtulya and Agencies

In Summary

• Warring parties urged to continue dialogue as crisis threatened to suck in other countries for a fully-blown out war in the newest nation

Dar es Salaam/Nairobi. Dar es Salaam joined the international community to welcome the signing of a cease-fire agreement between warring South Sudan rivals.

The much-delayed deal reached in Addis Ababa late Thursday provided for the cessation of hostilities within 24 hours. It was signed by representatives of South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and rebel delegates loyal to ousted vice president Riek Machar.

South Sudan’s government also agreed to free 11 officials close to Mr Machar who were detained after fighting between rival army units broke out on December 15, although no time-line for their release was given.

Mediators from the East African regional bloc IGAD, which has been brokering the peace talks, said the deal will put in place a verification and monitoring mechanism for the truce and allow unrestricted access to aid workers.

Commentators in Dar es Salaam who reacted to the news of the deal said it was the most pleasant news for the EAC region whose stability was bound to suffer from a disintegrating South Sudan.

Former East Africa Community Secretary General Mr Juma Mwapachu was among commentators who cheered the agreement and praised regional governments for bold steps to end the crisis which he said could destabilise local economies and endanger national security.

“South Sudan is an important regional player with abundant natural resources. What is most important is the future prospects for that country, we can’t let this madness tear them apart,” Mwapachu told The Citizen on Saturday in an interview.

Dr Kitojo Wetengele of the Mozambique-Tanzania Centre for Foreign Relations said the only route to peace and stability for South Sudan is dialogue. “It is good the opposing camps have signed a cease. War can’t solve tribalism and power struggle, they have to talk and see how to take the country forward,” he said.

African Union Commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said she commended the negotiating parties for the “spirit of compromise and mutual accommodation they demonstrated”.

She urged the two sides to “faithfully and fully implement the commitments they have made”.

The United States also welcomed the signing, saying it represents “a critical first step toward building lasting peace” in the ravaged country.

“We congratulate the IGAD mediation team for its crucial work in realising this critical step in resolving the conflict in South Sudan,” a US State Department spokeswoman said in a prepared statement.