How Revitalized Peace Agreement can Prevail in South Sudan
By Arnold Wangwe, Yumbe, Uganda
Saturday, February 22, 2020 (PW) — Reference is made to the article by AFP titled “S. Sudan rebel leader appointed vice president,” which has enthused many and made others skeptical. There is a looming uncertainty as to whether the power sharing deal that has taken donkey’s years to materialize, will actually take off or end in a stalemate. Conversely, the act of appointing Machar depicts a ray of hope for the embattled and embittered neighborhood. The formation of a unity government is a panacea to end the six years of self-made war. That President Kiir has compromised for the sake of harmony, is a true replica of leadership.
Compromise is not about losing, it is about deciding that the other person has just as much right to be happy with the end result as the other one does. In this particular case, two parties are agreeing to get what neither of them want, but for the sake of tranquility of the people of South Sudan, their selfish interests should be buried and the welfare and rights of the masses foregrounded, only then will they be considered selfless leaders. Rather than fight, it is better to save face by talking and negotiating for the greater good.
The quest for lasting peace in South Sudan has been thorny and cumbersome, time is right for the leaders to disagree to agree once and for all so that the world’s youngest nation can rest and take development as priority. Either party has to play their part of the bargain. Even the opposition needs to compromise provided that it is in the interest of peace, for PEACE as an acronym means People Existing Amicably in Cooperation and Equity.
They should remember that South Sudanese citizens have swallowed their leaders’ whims for so long; and now is the momentous epoch of reaching consensus. Considering PEACE as Positive Energy Corrects Errors, they will reckon to the fact that paying lip-service to peace has been rife, howbeit now living peace and reconciliation is beckoning for the country that has known chaos as the only modus operand to embrace lasting resolution of conflict.
President Kiir and his Vice Machar will be remembered by posterity for their patriotism when they truly agree on the power sharing deal. Given the divergent views, it is imperative that they reach a decision on the major issues such as maintaining the ten states, ridding themselves of venomous tribal politics, and integrate the fighting forces into one united army vested with the responsibility of defending South Sudan, its peoples and property. Through these methods of a pragmatic approach can sustainable peace reign in the oil rich country.
In chaos rests many opportunists both local and international, who plunder the resources and wish that insecurity goes on because it benefits them. When the leaders sober up and realize that over 400,000 people have died in this orchestrated conflict and millions displaced, the economy shattered and nearly half the country remains in a severe hunger crisis that is when they should bury the hatchet and peer into the future with action and responsibility. It is after these leaders have sworn that never again will their people die because of their power hungry motive that is when sanity will be restored.
Accepting to share power is a pregnant political statement for it is a crucial step towards ending six years of war. I am certain that Dr. Garang (peace be upon him) will smile in his grave because his vision was for a united and peaceful South Sudan where rule of law, justice and democracy would be the norm.
You can reach the author via his email: Wangwe Arnold <wangwearnold@gmail.com>
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