South Sudan needs our support

By Ann Fitz-Gerald and Hugh Segal

To the people of South Sudan, the creation of their newly independent state on July 6 is already a distant memory. The new country faces the unrivalled challenge of having to manage a new government, new borders and new economic challenges, and an underdeveloped society lacking in national infrastructure, educational systems and strong governance and leadership.

Sudan has been one of Canada’s foreign policy priorities since 2006, a priority that was further underscored by the support Canada provided to the January referendum that led to South Sudan’s formation. Canada was also among the first group of donor countries to commit its support to the post-independence future of South Sudan, particularly in areas of development assistance, humanitarian relief, peace-building and longer-term reconstruction. A new democracy searching for trusted partnerships and meaningful support to guide short-term decision making on its most urgent issues requires swift help from international partners.

In this context, Canada has much to offer. Its recent lead mediation role in the “Dubai Process” supporting peace-building in Afghanistan stands out as a future potential Canadian contribution to international peace operations. This experience has also demonstrated the contribution Canada can make to complex mediation, a process that will no doubt be required to underpin many of the challenges facing the newly independent state.

Canada’s active and influential role in the Commonwealth of Nations is also significant. The Commonwealth provides a strong foundation that could serve as the basis of any mediated discussions; a foundation that clearly articulates and represents the core values of its member states that, not surprisingly, include a number of South Sudan’s close regional neighbours, such as Uganda and Kenya. Indeed, one could argue that South Sudan should be a contender for Commonwealth membership. Its roots and future speak to what Commonwealth values of democracy, rule of law, development and capacity building could mean. The Commonwealth Secretariat in London and neighbouring African Commonwealth partners should be on this file.

The principles and values of democracy, and the international networks and opportunities that the Commonwealth offers as a tool supporting development and security, should not be underestimated. These foundations are particularly important for a country with a high number of nomadic and pastoralist groups, and traditional and tribal forms of governance. It is clear that South Sudan requires internal unification and to be constructively linked to the wider global community. The Commonwealth could be a key part of that link.

The importance of regional solutions to regional problems has never been as important to a country as it is now for South Sudan. Having been surrounded by United Nations missions since the deployment of UN forces to Ethiopia and Eritrea in 2000, Sudan remains vehemently opposed to any conventional forms of international intervention along the disputed border area. Indeed, the recent deployment of the Ethiopian-led peacekeepers to the contested Abyei region demonstrates the desire to use an intervention agent trusted by both Sudans. Arguably, bilateral agreements between Sudan, South Sudan and its numerous neighbouring countries will also play an important role in promoting peace.

But the local governments alone will not have the necessary resources to secure South Sudan against its own internal challenges and from exploitation by its neighbours.

Canada has an opportunity to use its proven mediation experience and its role in the Commonwealth of Nations to provide meaningful support that would be accepted by both Sudan and South Sudan, the broader region and the Canadian public, which remain proud of Canada’s Commonwealth role. We should seize it without delay.

National Post

Ann Fitz-Gerald is the director of the Centre for Security Sector Management at Cranfield University and the McNaughton-Vanier visiting chair at Canada’s Royal Military College. Senator Hugh Segal is a former chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and present member of the 10-person Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group advising heads of government on the future of the Commonwealth.

 Ann Fitz-Gerald and Hugh Segal: South Sudan needs our support