No efforts should be spared in saving South Sudan

The South Sudan peace talks that were being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, have once again collapsed.

The warring factions led by rebel leader Reik Machar and President Salva Kiir had until Thursday last week to come up with a comprehensive peace agreement that was to help South Sudan find its footing again.

The crisis in Africa’s youngest nation began in December 2013 after President Kiir fired his then deputy, Machar and sparked off a crisis that precipitated a civil war that has, to date, claimed more than 10000 lives and displaced close to two million people.

Whereas President Kiir’s action may have been dictated by political expediency, Machar’s dismissal took on ethnic connotations that have since pitted the Dinka tribe against the Nuer.

Mediation efforts headed by the African Union (AU) and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have failed and, to save the country, sterner measures that go beyond diplomacy might be necessary.

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution last week to impose sanctions on the people impeding the delicate peace process.

The resolution demanded that President Kiir and Mr Machar adhere to the January 23, 2014 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and respect human rights.

President Kiir and Mr Machar have shown little political goodwill in solving the political impasse and must therefore be held responsible for the collapse of South Sudan.

While Mr Machar insists on being appointed the first Vice President, Mr Kiir has shown no willingness to consent to that. The African Union appointed former Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo to head a task force on South Sudan whose handed-in report is yet to be officially released.

It is believed the AU team recommended that the two antagonists be barred from being part of a transitional government under the auspices of the African Union.

Continued hostilities deny the citizens of South Sudan the fruits of their 21 years struggle for self-rule.

The government is shaky and unable to offer basic services to its citizenry. The country’s oil reserves are not being exploited to the maximum because the civil war has either stopped or greatly slowed down production.

The loss of ol revenue has denied the country the much-needed foreign exchange to facilitate vital imports. Agricultural production has been adversely affected and the country is faced with looming hunger.

Kenya is likely to continue witnessing an influx of refugees escaping the war in South Sudan.

This, apart from putting a strain on the country’s stretched resources, poses a security threat.

Many Kenyans have set up businesses in South Sudan that stand to suffer losses if the hostilities are not stopped.

Further, no investors will be keen to put their investments in a country that is politically unstable.

To save South Sudan, the AU, IGAD and the UN must come up with a formula for lasting peace or, if necessary, put travel bans and asset freezes on the belligerent parties.