Has the Sant’Egidio-led Rome peace initiative become a coup d’état sponsored by the international community?

By Santino Riak Maker, Juba, South Sudan

Tuesday, March 28, 2023 (PW) — Recent political developments are worrisome because SSOMA, with the assistance of Sant’Egidio, an organisation that assists oppositions in finding international sponsors, has chosen a path that runs counter to what it was attempting to negotiate. They have devised a new agenda; Pa’gan Amum Okiech, Paul Malong Awan, Thomas Cirillo, and their associates stole their new agenda from Abraham Akech Awolich of the PCCA, the mastermind behind this severe conspiracy.

This new agenda is a coup d’état disguised as a “Roundtable Conference” sponsored by the international community. The Roundtable conference has called for establishing a technocratic government commanded by Pa’gan Amum Okiech as president, Gen. Paul Malong Awan as vice president, and Thomas Cirillo Swaka as the designated speaker of the National Assembly.

As they have written numerous times against the R-ARCSS, the aforementioned individuals persistently collaborate with important Sant’Egidio Community officials to dispose of it. They are against everything, including completing the R-ARCSS and the elections. The factions are opposed to democratic elections being held in South Sudan because it goes against their sinister motives.

It is also true that the top priority of SSOMA was to address the issues that contributed to the conflict in South Sudan, including governance, security, and constitutional reforms.  However, their recent demands for President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Dr Riek Machar Teny to resign and the establishment of a technocratic government has caused many to question their true intentions.

Such demands for ousting elected leaders and installing an unelected government are a cause for concern and must be thoroughly investigated. It is essential to ensure that any actions taken to resolve the fundamental causes of the conflict are legal and democratic and do not undermine the legitimacy of the elected government or the peace accord.

Moreover, installing a technocratic government may not be the optimal strategy for addressing the underlying causes of the conflict in South Sudan. While technocrats may be specialists in their disciplines, governance requires more than technical knowledge. It requires an in-depth knowledge of the country’s political and social context and the ability to create consensus and work towards common objectives.

SSOMA and their allies are working hard to enforce the implementation of the Roundtable Conference. In recent months, this conference has been the subject of considerable controversy. It is essentially an international coup d’état intended to install Pagan Amum as president of South Sudan. This method of conflict resolution is unlikely to succeed in a country with a recent history of political unrest.

The Roundtable Conference was conceived by the opposition as a forum for political dialogue and consensus-building in South Sudan, with the goal of bringing together all stakeholders to find a peaceful and long-term solution to the country’s political and security problems. However, the circumstances surrounding the conference now suggest that some political entities may have appropriated its concept for their own political advantage. Concerns have been raised that the process may need to be more inclusive and transparent.

One of the most worrisome aspects of the Roundtable Conference is the possibility that it is being used to advance the political ambitions of particular individuals, as opposed to working towards a solution that benefits all South Sudanese. It is not the responsibility of an international conference to hand-pick a country’s president, and any attempt to do so would be viewed as a direct contravention of the principles of democracy and the rule of law.

The Roundtable Conference is regarded as an international coup, which would worsen the country’s already fragile political stability. Since achieving independence in 2011, South Sudan has endured much violence and instability. Any attempt to change the government outside the democratic process would be considered a grave challenge to the nation’s sovereignty.Clearly, South Sudan requires a peaceful, inclusive conflict resolution strategy based on democratic principles and the rule of law.

The Sant’Egidio-led Rome process is itself becoming a source of contention. Some stakeholders now accuse the organization of undermining the implementation of the Intergovernmental Authority for Development-brokered Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). The Rome process provides the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) with a platform to advance an alternative political agenda to eliminate the current leadership and replace them with non-R-ARCSS members.

Signed in September 2018, the R-ARCSS is a crucial agreement that has been instrumental in stabilizing South Sudan. The agreement lays out a detailed plan for the formation of a transitional government of national unity, which will supervise a variety of political and security reforms prior to the country’s conducting democratic elections. The international community has ratified the IGAD-brokered agreement, and South Sudanese stakeholders largely favour it.

The community of Sant’Egidio, an Italian-based Catholic laity association, has been involved in promoting peace and reconciliation in South Sudan.  However, the organization’s recent actions suggest that it provides a platform for the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) to advance an alternative political agenda that seeks to overthrow the government of South Sudan.

This is a worrisome development, as any attempt to overthrow a democratically elected government would violate democratic and legal principles. It is essential that all parties involved in promoting peace and reconciliation in South Sudan adhere to these principles and work towards a peaceful resolution of the country’s problems.

The Community of Sant’Egidio should be warned against choosing a side in the political conflict in South Sudan by helping organisations seeking to overthrow the government. Instead, the organisation should promote dialogue and reconciliation between all South Sudanese parties, including the government and opposition groups that have signed the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.

In addition, the international community, including regional organisations such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), should ensure that all parties adhere to democratic and legal principles. Any attempt to undermine democratic processes or impose non-democratic solutions to the nation’s problems must be condemned and met with peaceful and democratic means of resolution.

While the Community of Sant’Egidio has been involved in peace negotiations and mediation efforts in South Sudan for several years, recent trends indicate that it is also supporting tribal agendas that may exacerbate the conflict in the country.

Tribalism is a major issue in South Sudan and has played a significant role in the country’s protracted conflict. Rather than supporting tribal agendas that could further divide the country, it is crucial that all stakeholders work towards promoting national unity and cohesion.

The Community of Sant’Egidio should be cautious in promoting peace and reconciliation in South Sudan so as not to support tribalism or inadvertently exacerbate existing tensions. This organisation should prioritize fostering dialogue and mutual understanding among all South Sudanese stakeholders and work towards addressing the fundamental causes of the country’s conflict.

Moreover, any peace agreement or political solution to the conflict in South Sudan must be founded on inclusiveness, democracy, and respect for human rights. The international community, including regional organisations like the African Union and the United Nations, should continue to support efforts to promote these principles in South Sudan and strive towards a peaceful and prosperous future for all South Sudanese.

The Sant’Egidio-led Rome process was intended to complement the IGAD-mediated agreement by providing a forum for South Sudanese parties to negotiate peace. Recent reports, however, indicate that certain groups, such as SSOMA, have used the process to advance an alternative political agenda that seeks to undermine the R-ARCSS and impose a different political order on the country.

Any attempt to subvert the R-ARCSS and impose a new political order on South Sudan would pose a grave threat to the country’s stability and long-term prospects for peace and development.   Therefore, it is essential for IGAD to safeguard the R-ARCSS from any threats, such as the SSOMA and other groups that may attempt to violate the agreement.

In addition, it is crucial that all South Sudanese stakeholders remain committed to implementing the R-ARCSS and work together to address any problems that arise.  The international community must continue to support efforts to promote peace and stability in South Sudan while remaining vigilant against any efforts to undermine democratic processes or impose non-democratic solutions to the country’s problems.

The SSOMA’s original plan to address the core causes of the conflict in South Sudan was commendable, but their recent calls to oust elected leaders and install a technocratic government are concerning and require close examination. Any actions taken to resolve the fundamental causes of the conflict must be legal and democratic, and they must not compromise the legitimacy of the elected government or the peace accord.

In conclusion, the Rome process should not be used to undermine the R-ARCSS mediated by IGAD. Instead, it should supplement the agreement by providing a forum for South Sudanese parties to negotiate peace. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) should take measures to safeguard the R-ARCSS from any threats. All parties should remain committed to implementing the agreement and working towards a peaceful and prosperous future for all South Sudanese.

Instead of supporting tribal agendas in South Sudan, the Community of Sant’Egidio should promote national unity and cohesion. The international community should also continue to support efforts to advance democracy, inclusiveness, and respect for human rights in South Sudan and work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

It is inappropriate for any individual or group to unilaterally determine government or National Assembly positions through a roundtable conference or other means. These actions undermine the constitution, the R-ARCSS, and democratic processes and can result in additional conflict and insecurity.

The author is a concerned South Sudanese who can be reached via his email: riakmaker530@gmail.com

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