The SPLM-IO party in South Sudan has suspended its role in the peace process due to deteriorating relations between Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir, exacerbated by violent clashes and arrests of its officials. Approximately 50,000 have been displaced, raising fears of a return to civil war amidst rampant hate speech and rising tensions linked to regional conflicts.
On Tuesday, a significant party within South Sudan’s coalition government announced a suspension of its participation in a crucial aspect of the 2018 peace agreement. This decision arises amidst escalating tensions between the party leader Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir, which have been exacerbated by recent clashes and arrests.
The 2018 agreement was designed to resolve a five-year conflict between the factions supporting Kiir and Machar, who currently holds the position of First Vice President and leads the SPLM-IO party. However, their already tenuous relationship has further declined following recent violence in eastern South Sudan.
Earlier in the month, security forces arrested multiple officials from the SPLM-IO, including both the petroleum minister and the deputy head of the army. This occurred after the White Army ethnic militia compelled government troops to withdraw from the town of Nasir, located near the Ethiopian border. The government has accused the SPLM-IO of having connections with the White Army, a group largely composed of Nuer youths who supported Machar during the war, an allegation the party firmly refutes.
Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the deputy chairman of the SPLM-IO, stated that the party would refrain from engaging in security arrangements related to the peace process until their detained officials are released. He emphasized that the ongoing political persecution jeopardizes both the integrity and the viability of the peace agreement.
The conflict near Nasir in Upper Nile state has resulted in the displacement of approximately 50,000 individuals since late February, with 10,000 having fled to neighboring Ethiopia, according to United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator Anita Kiki Gbeho.
Nicholas Haysom, the chief of UN peacekeeping in South Sudan, expressed concern that the nation is perilously close to slipping back into civil war. He noted the growing prevalence of hate speech and disinformation, which raise alarms about the potential for the conflict to take on an ethnic dimension.
Furthermore, analysts have indicated that the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan has contributed to the disintegration of the peace process, leading to the suspension of oil revenues for South Sudan and fueling regional instability. Alan Boswell of the International Crisis Group warned of the possibility that violence stemming from the Sudan conflict might soon spread to Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
The suspension of the SPLM-IO’s participation in the peace process highlights the deteriorating relations between key political leaders in South Sudan, and the significant implications this has for regional stability. The displacement of thousands and the rise in hate speech underscore the critical state of affairs, suggesting that without a resolution, the nation may face a resurgence of civil unrest. Continued monitoring and intervention by international bodies may be necessary to mitigate these escalating tensions and support the fragile peace.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
