Why South Sudan Closer Ties with China Caused Thousands of Lives
By Mapuor Malual Manguen, Juba
The incident of 15th December last year left many quarters without unified definition. Some called it coup attempt. Others called it manifestation of dictatorial tendency. But the author believes the move by Republic of South Sudan to cooperate and established closer ties with China has angered United States of America and her allies in Europe to the extent of supporting path of regime change in nascent state in East Africa.
On December 15, 2013, heavy fighting broke out in Qaieda barrack hosting elite soldiers of Presidential Guard Brigade in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. The fighting quickly spread to many parts of Juba and other states pitting tribal soldiers largely from Nuer ethnic group who switched their allegiance to Dr. Riek Machar against loyalist section of national army known as Sudan peoples’ Liberation Army (SPLA). Until now, the war has already claimed an estimated 10 thousand lives; over a million people are displaced internally or across international borders as refugees. And the country is virtually plunged in protracted civil war.
The government of South Sudan called it military coup attempt allegedly staged by former vice president, Dr. Riek Machar and other disgruntled members of Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) who were sacked along with him way back in July 2013. Dr. Riek Machar who currently leads armed rebellion in the country and his co-accused denied government version and, instead accused President Kiir and his allies of creating 15th December crises in Qaieda as an attempt to silence them because of their criticism of what they called, his “dictatorial tendencies”.
Despite massive campaigns launched by government to sell out its version of 15th December as military coup attempt intended to forcefully remove democratically elected government, the Western world particularly United States strongly denied any coup claim. The West simplified it as misunderstanding in the barrack hosting elite soldiers of Presidential Guard Brigade following incessant disputes caused by power struggle in the ruling SPLM party. This version somehow rhymes with version of Dr. Riek Machar and his group. However, the other powers and intergovernmental institutions such as China – a leading investor in South Sudan’s oil –; the African Union, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and Arab World flip-flopped on how they could define the context of 15th December fighting. To certain extent, almost all of them either chose to keep silence or gave vague statements to avoid comments that would infuriate any of the two warring parties.
In regard to interest of Western world in South Sudan, the US and its allies in Europe mid-wifed birth of South Sudan and, during its independence struggle with Sudan. In 2011, US used its diplomatic clout to support agenda of South Sudan getting secession from recalcitrant Islamist regime in Khartoum that oppressed the latter for decades. China on the other hand was siding with oppressive regime in Sudan which awarded it with oil concessions located mainly in South Sudan. As signs of mutual interests, China in turn was providing military hardware to Sudan to boost its military capabilities to clear and protect oil fields from threats emanating from then secessionist rebels in South Sudan. All this was taking place during war time.
However, following signing of Comprehensive peace Agreement that ended civil war between SPLA/M and Khartoum that paved the way for South Sudan’s referendum in 2011, China slowly changed its attitude towards South Sudan cause. In nutshell, China gave lukewarm support to referendum that gave birth to world newest nation in South Sudan. After hoisting its flag on July 9, 2011, the regime led by President Kiir Mayardit in which Dr. Riek Machar was its vice, went ahead to bury hatchets with China and moved further to build closer ties with it. Moreover, the nascent state allowed intake, all oil concessions negotiated and awarded by Sudan government to China before independence. The two countries also embarked on huge projects such as infrastructure projects and economic cooperation.
Although they will never state it publicly, the United States and its allies felt they have not been rewarded with a portion of the oil and mineral largesse buried inside the bosom of the nation. As a result, they have upturned their noses against Kiir’s regime by fuelling the conflict in the country. Already, the current regime in Juba has been in wrong book of US government since a few months after independence proclamation. The arrogant behavior of Obama administration towards Government of South Sudan is good testimony to this point. Unlike George W. Bush era where President Kiir frequented Oval House, Obama administration has never had warm relations with Kiir regime. This could have been one of factors pushing South Sudan government to establish political and economic ties with China which had had bad blood with it if history is anything to go by.
As US may deny that it is interested in South Sudan oil, the question is, why did US government devoted support to South Sudan cause for independence? What was that special interest? Do Americans really like South Sudanese people? The fact is Americans want oil, mineral reserves and fertile arable land in South Sudan for agricultural purposes. USA and Allies feel they could no long achieve this goal under current regime in Juba whose interest is more national than serving foreign neo-colonialist interests. Hence, the West is upped with resources at their disposal including their media institutions for regime change to install puppet government in Juba that will give up natural resources of the country. But already, this path had proven to be too bloody as thousands of innocent lives are killed just in five months old civil war which America and their Western media describe as war between Dinka and Nuer!
The author is based in Juba. He can be reached at mapuormalual@yahoo.com
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