IGAD peace implementation at snail speed
By Philip Thon Aleu, Nairobi, Kenya
December 03, 2015 (SSB) – November 26th marked the nineteenth day since President Salva Kiir signed the Agreement to Resolve the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS). That was the end of three months of pre-transitional period.
The sponsors of the peace talks, the Troika countries of the United Nations, Norway and the United Kingdom released a press statement expressing “concern” about the delay to form the transitional government of national unity. That statement should have served as a reminder that time is running out.
The drama going on now is the coming of SPLM In Opposition advance team to Juba. On Monday, November 30th, Ezekiel Lul Gatkuoth, the top SPLM IO diplomat told VOA Day Break Africa that the advance team, composed of 550 strong men and women, will come to Juba on December 2. That day came to pass.
Of late the UN Mission in South Sudan and IGAD offered to airlift 50 SPLM IO to Juba. The government on the other hand wanted the detailed biography of the 560 – the number has already increased by ten people since Lul spoke to the press on Monday.
There might be some untold stories behind the scenes – either on the government and the SPLM IO camp. An interview Riek Machar gave to VOA’s South Sudan in Focus on Friday November 28th provided a hint. Machar said he wanted to meet President Kiir, probably in Kenyan capital Nairobi before his advance team comes to Juba. That changed over the weekend with Lul’s interview.
And so the snail speed of the peace implementation continues. Of course the suffering continues too for the common men, women and children in conflict zones.
Those non-conflict areas are suffering too from anxiety. The surging prices of commodities are biting in Juba and other towns nationwide. The hope for these emaciating South Sudanese people is peace implementation.
© Philip Thon Aleu is a South Sudanese journalist. Email: thonphaleu2006@yahoo.com
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