Ethiopia: Heavy Fighting Resumes in South Sudan

Chief negotiator condemns fighting in South Sudan

At the dawn of the New Year, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD's) anticipation was to see the gift of peace prevail in South Sudan. However, recent reports show that heavy violence had renewed in the Unity and Upper Nile States of South Sudan.

The fighting started only two weeks after the two rivals - mediated by Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin, Chief IGAD Negotiator and Special Envoy to South Sudan - made a pledge to bring peace and reconciliation.

Reports show that heavy fighting is going on particularly in the Nassir region of the Upper Nile State and Bentiu of the Unity State.

In a statement sent to The Reporter, IGAD's Chief Negotiator condemned the renewal of heavy fighting and called upon the international community to offer an immediate help to stop the hostilities.

Seyoum urged the warring parties in South Sudan to "demonstrate restraint and immediately cease hostilities" in line with his repeated pledges to end the war.

It is to be recalled that, On November 7 at the 28th Extraordinary Summit of the IGAD Heads of States and Governments, the warring parties of South Sudan have committed to bring "unconditional, complete and immediate" end to all hostilities in the country.

After warning the leaders of both groups that they are facing charges of crimes against humanity, the regional block - IGAD - once more urged Heads of States and Governments, the African Union, the United Nations, the Troika, the European Union, China and the rest of international community to join in to pressurizing the parties to immediately end hostilities and commit to the ongoing peace process.

It is also to be remembered that, just before the dawn of the New Year, Ambassador Seyoum had urged the warring parties to ensure that the year-long devastating conflict should not continue for one moment longer.

IGAD also prepared a resolution recommending both parties form a Joint National Transitional Government where Salva Kir, the current President of the nation, would assume the presidency and while Riek Machar (PhD), head of the armed opposition group, assuming the Premiership of the would be government. According to IGAD's proposed resolution, the presidency would hold an executive power while the premiership will play a nominal role. As expected, the opposition group opposed this resolution arguing for an executive premiership and symbolic presidency. This has been a stalemate situation for weeks before violence erupted once again.

The Chief Negotiator also noted on his statement that IGAD's Monitoring and Verification Team is instructed to investigate into the recent conflict and report to the regional block.