South Sudanese still Trapped in the Crossfire of SPLM Factional Fights
By Malith Alier, Juba, South Sudan
April 16, 2016 (SSB) —- On the 12 April 2016, the SPLM/A IO Deputy Chairman, Alfred Ladu Gore arrived in Juba as part of the implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement. Prior to this, a group of mobilisers of the rebel faction faced arrest in Juba suburb. The number was about twenty or so as reported by the faction. The early days are a critical period for the peace implementation. Good start makes good ending. The two factions or called them partners should adhere to the peace document in letter and spirit. They’re aware that there are two agreements; the Arusha and the CPA.
The Arusha set out the SPLM reunification based on correction of the previous points of disagreement which led to the war in 2013. The Arusha as advocated by various regional parties like African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa is a blue print to address SPLM internal democracy and how to govern this country in the best interest of citizens. However, the implementation of Arusha accord seems to be in trouble beginning with non-reunification of the party itself. Many other important clauses including formal apology to the people of South Sudan, separation of army from party politics and democratic transformation are pending. At the rate we’re going, these values may be lost in another vicious cycle.
The Compromise Peace Agreement (CPA) is modelled to include all aspects of democracy, good governance, compensation of victims of conflict, reparation, reforms at all levels leading to holding democratic elections after transitional period.
It has been seven months since appending signatures to the agreement. Indeed four months after expiry of the so-called pre-transitional period. All pre-transitional arrangement should have been completed and TGoNU formed in November 2015 if parties were willing to pick the agreement on its feet.
After much going between and persuasion by international community, the parties to the peace agreement are inexorably coming to form TGoNU in the last weeks of April 2016. Nobody should allow room for farther antagonism. It is the ordinary South Sudanese who suffer most in this. We all know how the economy went beyond salvage. People are forced into camps, refugees or IDPs. Lots of other violations occur with no redress.
Unless there is other interest above peace agreement, the government and the former rebels should work together to implement the agreement as it is on the paper without much ado.
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