IGAD’s peace proposal spiced with bitter pills will result into miscarriage!
7 min readBy Sunday de John, Nairobi Kenya
July 27, 2015 (SSB) —- With proposed peace pact delivered to the belligerent parties, it is inevitable that what everybody has been yearning for is already underway. What boggle one’s mind are the perception by stakeholders and the content of the proposed agreement.
In many instances, there are discrepancies glaringly alarming within the paper that are sending chills down the political spine of the warring parties and other stakeholders in the political dispensation. On either side, what the mediators referred to as Compromise Peace Agreement has caused mixed reactions with possibility that the reactions would disregard the feasibility of the motives behind this great work of the interested well wishers.
The peace proposal despite it being the visible way of achieving viable rescue for human suffering if well perceived, would notably be described as one with numerous shortfalls in depth and thoroughness in many parameters. However, many things are at stake including human lives, human dignity, development and prosperity that are hoped for as pillars that should be embraced and nurtured for the good of everybody.
As if real peace was to be experienced, the bitterness of politicians basing on tenets of greed especially for power and material wealth shall keep at bay the feasibility of this paper and at stake like usual are the common men and women that constitute the large but unconsidered majority since the peace has been gagged at birth.
With hopes and despite deathblows to previous peace proposals, this one seems necessary pending the acceptability by the belligerent parties. Cognizant that it is a constitutional amendment undertaking, deceptively it looks like a roadmap that would birth an ostentatious breakthrough pending reconciliations at both intellectual and ordinary levels.
Disbelievingly, one nonconformist, a hater of SPLM in opposition has emphatically cited that the content of the said proposal is evenhandedly a purported text rhyming in depth and adequacy to the interest of Dr. Riek Machar and would only hold if the government has perceived the strings attached to it as dreadfully difficult to untie and when it is only inevitable that failure to sign the agreement would cause a regime change.
The angered nonconformist in a rather ridiculous manner meticulously defied that the international pressures that are augmented by withering ability to win war shall be the only reasons why a compromise of that magnitude be accepted. Adding that while dissecting truth on this matter it is possible the document won’t be signed.
With concomitant rebelliousness, this same nonconformist loathed that the document was characteristically tailored in such a way that it favors individuals and for that matter happiness of an individual whether that of Kiir or Riek wasn’t what South Sudanese have been dying for. Like a wounded lion, he bitterly revealed that the proposed document puts SPLM in shreds and hence has downright violated the reunification Agreement architected in Arusha, Tanzania.
The groups referred to as the SPLM/IO and the SPLM/FD are one entity aspiring for a common goal with ploys of dispersion then regrouping in Kiir’s elimination. To effect and diversify the impact of rebelling, they had dispersed first to gain more seats and to cheat fickle Kiir and his group that they were enhancing a good cause knowing that despite winding paths, their goal is apt. This is another portrayal of thug life in a political circle.
To make matters even worse, the agreement compromises very many entities that would have been stakeholders. Apparently it shouldn’t be underestimated that many communities in Upper Nile region who have been maimed by Riek on ethnicity are once again falling preys of his recent turn of events and it would be a great mistake to sign such a deal without considering the grievances of the majority notably non-Nuers. Without mincing words, as Dr. Riek takes over Upper Nile region, at stake would be communities such as Shilluk, Padang, Maban, Anyuak, Kashipo, Murle and Bor.
Pending the fact that the current proposal overthrows the constitution, it is inevitable that other stakeholders with hopes of getting what they want such as Murle with recent David Yau-Yau’s agreement shall be thrown onto the streets simple because the agreement they signed would be rendered null and void since the proposal has not touched on former internal or external agreements.
The proposal in its entirety has nothing to do with many sectors including education and health since its prime objectives are quests for wealth and power. So the quest for power and resources had blinded the drafters of this proposal such that they myopically omitted vital sectors that would be considered long term but permanent solutions to the conflict.
The SPLM/DC that has been fighting for a possible democratic change is losing the grip simply because it is being thrown out of parliament particularly in states where Riek has been awarded lion shares on power and wealth. The silence of this agreement on issues to do with Bhar El Gazal and Equatoria is equally engraving the fact that it isn’t a great proposal and would be regarded as a bogus document that must fail for the content and substance are below par.
On the same token, demilitarization of Juba means dismantling the SPLA headquarters and all the notable garrisons around the city and in essence would be regarded as an act in contempt with the army act and it wouldn’t be advisable that mediators work in favor of Riek to that extent that they even include themselves in redeploying the army and also being part and parcel of constitutional process that they even claim to chair.
The proposal has gone against South Sudanese and optimistically, the document seems to be harboring South Sudan’s disintegration. It is fragmenting the country since every parameter is designed basing on Riek speeches of wants. The repercussions to this kind of proposal are lethal and it would correctly be stated that the costs of signing it would be much lower than the costs of its implementation.
Why would South Sudanese leaders because of pressure go for a bad peace in the first place? It is wise that this proposal be shelved and a new one drafted with mediators not drunk this time with Riek’s hysteria. There is no grant from any Western Country that would be as good as tranquil South Sudan. Whether levying sanctions on individuals would be the reason why leaders will sign such a bad peace or not shall with time become a common knowledge of everyone.
Even before signing this lethal document, it has become a point of celebration since rebels, their sympathizers, former detainees and their supporters took it to the streets of Nairobi bragging about how much their ploys are working. It was since two months ago that some skirmish-oriented individuals began to campaign for peace vocally that it should be given a chance. Such campaigns have now been explored to might have been fuelled by the fact that the mentioned brownnosers were virtually aware of what their political godfathers were plotting in conjunction with Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Nevertheless, this proposed agreement wouldn’t hold any connotation for long although it shouldn’t be compromised that peace is a requisite at this juncture but only genuinely. The agreement that will be signed when signatories to it have heavy hearts shall in no time fail to achieve its objective.
Notably, nothing good for South Sudanese will ever come out of Ethiopia, even the proclaimed 1972 Addis Ababa agreement of Joseph Lagu wasn’t a good one and for that reason, it was dishonored before achieving its prime objective of giving South Sudanese the permanent freedom and all other liberties they had yearned for.
The current high pressure from the Western world and perhaps a little bit of it from the Eastern world mustn’t be the reason of going for a peace that shall crumble from its genesis. Those who may incarcerate me for being anti such trivial peace are allowed to talk their minds with consideration of the fact that bad peace agreement would be even more expensive than the current war. A durable ceasefire would be the factual requirement as negotiations continue for better outcomes. Rushing for a peace that wouldn’t last long isn’t a better choice, rather it is a desire to plant more sentiments and create more expensive wars.
However, with augur I can say that the peace is vitally necessary but not in such a rush! It should be tentatively mentioned that this IGAD peace proposal is indeed spiced with numerous bitter pills that would eventually dwarf or annihilate it. Till then, yours truly Mr. Teetotaler!
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