South Sudan: More Hope for Peace in South Sudan

After 24 months of fighting, killings, massive destruction of property and displacements, the protagonists in South Sudan have finally embarked on the road to ultimate peace.

The four partners in the South Sudan Compromise Peace Agreement on Thursday agreed on sharing ministerial portfolios, laying the foundation for the formation of the transitional government of national unity.

It is a welcome development, not just for the long suffering people of South Sudan but also for the security and economies of the region. By eliminating one conflict, the region can now focus on pacifying Burundi and Somalia.

However, it is not going to be easy because the peace agreement signed in August 2015 only focuses on four groups but left out several interest groups that still nurse some grievances. It is our hope that the new agreement has laid the foundation for others to buy into the peace process.

Countries within the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development and the East African Community must now take the lead to exert diplomatic pressure on the South Sudan leadership to ensure that there is no relapse based on individual interests. These countries must embrace peace in the best interests of South Sudan, not for their economic and political whims.

But more so, key protagonists, President Salva Kiir and Dr Riek Machar, must now lead the country in eliminating the ingredients for perennial conflict in the young nation by embracing genuine and far-reaching constitutional, institutional and socio-economic reforms to enable the South Sudanese enjoy the fruits of decades of struggle for self-determination.

It is now time for political leaders to create a conducive environment for ordinary people to reap from immense natural resources ranging from oil to minerals, huge agricultural potential, and the manpower trained in the diaspora during the 21 years of civil war with the north.

But a number of challenges lie ahead. Topmost is that the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, which is overseeing the implementation under the leadership of former president of Botswana Festus Mogae, needs serious support from the region and the international community to guide South Sudan over the next 30 months.

Second is national healing and reconciliation. Even though the former rebels are returning home in batches, there is still tension in Juba and various parts of the country. Those aggrieved will start demanding justice and the world has to help South Sudan set up a court to hear cases on atrocities committed during the war. These trials need to be prudently navigated lest those named sabotage the process to avoid being held to account.

There is also a case to bring a number of armed groups that were left out of the peace agreement to the negotiating table, and reconsider the division of the country into 28 states that sparked off fresh clashes over land and oil resources. By and large, South Sudan is moving in the right direction.