South Sudan’s new administration has offered to contribute troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and also mediate in the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Speaking to BBC’s Focus on Africa programme on Monday 15 August Deng Alor Kuol, the interim minister of foreign affairs, said the newly independent country was “prepared” to offer a helping hand in support to Somalia as part of its commitment to peace in Africa.
In addition on Wednesday 17 August in Addis Ababa, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit said “as soon as we have set our priorities in order and rolling, I will shuttle between Addis Ababa and Asmara until the two sisterly countries are brought back to normal relations”.
Clearly, Africa’s newest state seems keen to increase its regional influence on crucial issues. However, saddled with its own internal challenges, some have wondered whether it is prudent at this point in time for South Sudan to participate in challenges such as peacekeeping operations.
Indeed, Peter Abdullah Raman Sule, leader of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) party, has argued that the government should first address its myriad of domestic problems before it commits to a challenging foreign policy (in other words sending forces to Somalia) that few other African countries have prioritised.
While South Sudan may be better placed be a mediator between Ethiopia and Eritrea, given that it enjoys good relations with both countries and possesses mediation experience having facilitated talks between the Ugandan government and the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) in 2006, some South Sudanese feel that it needs to surmount its multifaceted internal challenges before adopting some of these ambitious adventures.
Most peacekeeping operations in Africa have often been sponsored by the United Nations and Western nations and this might be what South Sudan needs in order to increase its military capacity and cooperation with foreign powers and organisations.
Others however, may see utility in assignments such as peacekeeping operations because, besides their potential to expand a country’s foreign exchange, they may just be what is needed to provide economic alternatives to South Sudan’s bloated military.
What is certain is that if South Sudan can manage its vast natural resources properly, it may just develop the necessary economic muscle to play a key role in the region and continent.
President Salva Kiir’s recent promises of assistance may be setting the tone of his proposed foreign policy, but the reality will be a precarious balancing act between domestic priorities and foreign imperatives.
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