IGAD appeals to Museveni over South Sudan

President Yoweri Museveni has said elections will be the solution for the situation in South Sudan. He, however, observed that the ideological problem of seeing sectarian groups as more important than national issues is a limitation.

“You cannot win elections with tribal forces. With elections, political actors will seek alliances. This makes you to behave. If you have been mistreating an area, how do you get voters there? But elections without an army, census and a constitution; these are crucial to having an election which is not contested,” he said, according to a press released issued by State House.

The President was on Wednesday meeting the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Special Envoy for South Sudan, Ambasador Dr Ismail Wais at State Lodge in Nakasero, Kampala.

On the mechanics of unification, Museveni said it is important to unite and train soldiers who will then provide the security for the country to deal with other issues later.

“Here, we never paid the army. We had no money. All we wanted was food, clothing and unity. Don’t demand so many things because you don’t have them. You need food, clothing, medicine and get moving. Donors can help with food and uniform. Even without pay, they can provide security then deal with other issues. If you have peace and roads, start collecting revenue and you deal with other issues later,” he said.

Decrying the communal violence in South Sudan, Museveni said he would follow up with the respective leaders to find solutions.

Wais said: “We are here in line with our African tradition to visit leaders and wise men to benefit from their wisdom and seek their guidance. The implementation of the 2018 Agreement is going on well, though slowly. The main challenge is with regard to Chapter II on Transitional Security Arrangements (TSA).”

The full implementation of the TSA as set out in the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) is intended to underpin a stable and secure future for the people of South Sudan, but the slow pace of implementation has got stakeholders concerned.

Speaking during the 16th Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) monthly meeting in Juba in February, Interim chairperson Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai reiterated that implementation of the TSA as envisaged in the R-ARCSS is vital. However, he told the meeting that no progress had been reported on the training, graduation and redeployment of Necessary Unified Forces under phase I.

Wais said the TSA implementation has “unfortunately stalled, including the unification of forces”. He said there is no food, clean water, shelter or medication in the cantonment and training sites for almost wo years now.

“These deplorable conditions are causing defections, internal conflict and violence,” he said.

ISSUES PLAGUING THE COUNTRY

Wais said communal fighting is widespread, which can be significantly reduced if the forces are united and deployed. Fragmentation and defections undermine trust and confidence among the parties, he said.

Other issues include the proliferation of small arms within communities in South Sudan, which is undermining security, disarmament and collection of arms.

The unification of the command structure, Wais said, is a major challenge for the unification of forces.