Does Riek Machar know that he’s also a co-implementer of IGAD’S peace deal?
Dr. Riek Machar should know that he’s also a co-implementer of IGAD’S Compromise Peace Agreement with President Salva Kiir Mayaardit
By Philip Nyieth Arou, Australia
March 28, 2016 (SSB) —- It is long overdue now since the signing of ‘unrealistic’ peace deal brokered by IGAD-Plus nations; however, it seems that Riek has forgotten that this peace accord needs double efforts on both sides in term of its implementation. The disintegration of the SPLM-IO prior to the signing shows that imaginary peace will be extremely difficult to implement because of so many disintegrated army generals in the bush who have no heart for South Sudan.
The likes of Peter Gadet and Gathoth who recently defected from the opposition vow to fight both Riek Machar’s armed forces and the government of South Sudan simply because the Compromise Proposal signed by President Kiir and Riek Machar doesn’t favor them. Both generals were sacked by Riek Machar similar to how President kiir sacked his former Vice President in 2013; and unfortunately, Riek Machar rebelled against his boss. It’s a trend isn’t it?
The fact still remains that these army generals did not have the will to rebel though Gadet is a career rebel, but one would argue their ‘common goal to rid of the leadership they thought was the problem to Nuer people’ would have kept them intact; however, a tradition of “a smiling happy-to-defect-again political chameleon, as puts by one of the Kenyans’ writer made it possible for this group to fractured.
Their fate now is undetermined given their exclusion in the peace dividends between the government and the SPLM-IO. The generals accused their former boss of violating Fangak’s Manifestos and other vital resolutions of mutineer war. Now, Riek is a major target of his former commanders, although he lives a comfortable life in Addis Aba Aba’s hotel. It’s very interesting how one can lead a rebellion whilst living in a hotel in a foreign country. Is the bush unbearable for Riek Machar to handle?
To reiterate the essence of this piece, the author does not see Riek Machar’s seriousness on the implementation of the recently signed peace agreement for two reasons.
Firstly, his provocation through the media is adding another salt to an already worsen relationship with the government of South Sudan and its citizens. It was last week that Riek Machar made up a story that President Kiir had slaughtered some 600 hundred politicians in the country; a statement which he deliberately made to heighten propaganda and mobilize new recruits to join his rebellion.
Nevertheless, the government denied the accusations and instead termed them as mere and pure lies fabricated to distort legitimacy of the government of the people and immediately called for verification of the claims labeled against it. With this regard, Riek has to bear in mind that he is also part of the government he tries to tarnish because he had agreed to sign a peace pact, and that peace deal needs cooperation from both government and rebels. It’s absurd for someone of his caliber to recklessly utter fabrications on media without even thinking of his position as a government partner on compromise peace realization. It’s high time Riek comes to his senses and preach peace and avoid propaganda altogether.
The rebel leader can be further re-accused of sedition if he continues doing that. However, peace will not materialize if both camps are reluctant in its implementation. Unlike Riek, President Kiir is ready to implement IGAD’s signed proposal given the suffering of South Sudanese citizens within South Sudan and aboard. Peace isn’t a song which one can just sing and expect to materialize, hence this continuous violation of cessation of hostility shows that Riek isn’t giving peace a chance. It was a good gesture for peace when the President read out a decree by announcing “immediate ceasefire”, however, rebels continue to attack government held areas.
Secondly, Riek’s inability to control his forces is another obstacle to the implementation of the signed peace. For this peace to be successfully implemented, Riek needs to take charge of his forces otherwise, this document might end up like Arusha Reunification of the SPLM accord. Leaving part of the militia in the bush and come with part will make peace less ineffective or make no sense at all. The lingering question is, was IGAD in hurry to speed up the process simple because Riek was at odd with most influential commanders?
Well, with few loyalist under him it’s high time Riek compromise and support what he had signed because currently he does not have a handful of supporters. The rebel forces in rebel control areas are under command of generals who don’t respect his directives. Nonetheless, Riek had lost good number to intellectual Changson Chang. It’s likely that Riek will return to Juba empty handed without any forces under him.
Finally, the implementation of IGAD signed peace proposal lies on the will of President Kiir’s administration, Riek Machar, and the newly formed faction. Both Riek and Kiir have the obligation to approach Peter Gadet and Gathoth for further talks otherwise this peace will remain in documents. As the name suggests, “Compromise Peace Agreement” does not need politicians to focus on seats only, but to compromise on the future of the country.
Philip Nyieth Arou is currently in Australia and can be reached via his email address: philip nyieth <philipnyieth@gmail.com>
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