IGAD-led peace process lacks inclusivity and understanding of South Sudan conflict dynamics
4 min readBy Michael Mading Akueth, Juba
March 3, 2015 (SSB) — The citizens of Republic of South Sudan are consciously waiting for the two principals President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar to bring peace to the country.
There is a high assumption that if the two principals compromised and reach the peace agreement the country will be peaceful and life will return to normal which I think it is not absolutely true because the IGAD led peace process is not inclusive and fail to understand the dynamics of South Sudan conflict.
It is based on the assumption that SPLM in government and SPLM-IO are the only two actors in this conflict and if the two parties reach an agreement then the rest will surely follow and the country will be peaceful.
This is a myth, the government is not only formed by the SPLM; there others parties inside which are not being consulted much on the peace process which I think have an interest too. What will be their fate after peace agreement?
The mediators have not taken time to properly study the dynamics of the current conflicts and truly define the term peace which they tirelessly want to bring to South Sudan.
They should ask themselves several questions before they drafted peace agreement proposals; what type of peace do we want to bring to south Sudan? Who are other actors that we should include in the process? Do all the parties feel well represented in this peace talks?
In the ancient times historical literatures, the term ‘peace’ originates from the Anglo-French pes, and the Old French pais, meaning “peace, reconciliation, silence, agreement” But, Pes itself comes from the Latin pax, meaning “peace, compact, agreement, treaty of peace, tranquility, absence of hostility, harmony.”
Although ‘peace’ is the usual translation, it is an incomplete one, because ‘shalom,’ which is also cognate with the Arabic Salaam, has multiple other meanings in addition to peace, including justice, good health, safety, well-being, prosperity, equity, security, good fortune, and friendliness.
At a personal level, peaceful behaviors are kind, considerate, respectful, just, and tolerant of others’ beliefs and behaviors — tending to manifest goodwill.
In the view of the above definitions, which peace are we waiting? The communities are more divided than ever before and the hatred level is growing every day. Will there be harmony after peace agreement among the communities? What about the issues of justice for the victims? Will there be good security, prosperity, equity and reconciliation? Only God knows the best answers.
The political parties are divided and disintegrated into small unit which are only begging the two principals to remember them in their kingdoms.
With this huge pressure of sanctions on the South Sudanese leaders; I’m afraid, they will compromise and sign peace deal against their will which will not benefit any citizen in this country. This peace agreement will be done on the rush and fear of sanctions and it will definitely fail to meet minimum standard of sustainable peace.
IGADs and friends of South Sudan will leave South Sudan divided and disintegrated more than before because they did not diagnosed and prescribed good solutions for peace agreement. The country will miss another great opportunity to define honorable peace that could lay solid foundation for this nation.
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