South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed Ambassador Monica Achol Abel amid rising political turmoil and worsening relations with Vice President Riek Machar. The National Security Service has also detained key ministers, indicating a power struggle. Kenyan President William Ruto is mediating and advocating for dialogue, but the peace process faces significant obstacles following years of unresolved conflicts and recurring violence across the nation.
President Salva Kiir of South Sudan has dismissed Monica Achol Abel from her position as ambassador to Kenya, just four months after her appointment. This decision was made public through state television but lacks an official explanation, marking a continuation of Kiir’s pattern of abrupt personnel changes. The political situation in Juba is particularly tense, with rising animosity between Kiir and his first vice president, Riek Machar, prompting fears of further destabilization within the government.
Abel’s termination occurs amid a broader crackdown by South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) on political figures. This week has seen heightened activity, including the detainment of Peacebuilding Minister Stephen Par Kuol and Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chuol, compounding concerns regarding an internal power struggle within the ruling party. The implications for the country’s peace process, already fraught with challenges, remain uncertain.
Kenyan President William Ruto, who has been actively mediating through the Tumaini Initiative peace process, has recognized the escalating crisis. He has communicated with both leaders, urging dialogue to restore peace while acknowledging ongoing regional consultations aimed at addressing the South Sudan situation.
The region has a history of unresolved conflict, with the onset of civil war in December 2013 stemming from internal political strife within the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). Despite several peace agreements aimed at stabilizing the country, including the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan of June 2018, implementation has been slow and violence persists, leaving the future of South Sudan’s peace fragile as political dynamics continue to evolve.
In conclusion, the recent dismissal of South Sudanese Ambassador Monica Achol Abel is emblematic of the escalating political crisis in the country. The deterioration in relations between President Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar raises serious concerns about stability. With the NSS’s crackdown on political figures and the ongoing challenges to the peace process, the situation in South Sudan remains precarious, necessitating swift and effective diplomatic intervention to avert further conflict.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
