South Sudan situation dangerous, Kalonzo now warns

By JACOB NGETICH

NAIROBI, KENYA: Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has called for immediate cessation of hostilities in South Sudan.

“The situation in South Sudan is unpredictable. Unless the sides immediately cease aggression, the country might slip into a very dangerous situation,” said Kalonzo.

The former VP’s efforts led to the peace talks between North and South Sudan, which eventually led to the signing of Comprehensive Peace agreement in 2005.

The crisis in South Sudan began last Sunday after army units loyal to both President Salvar Kiir and his former Vice President Riek Machar clashed. In a televised address to the nation on Monday, Kiir blamed Dr Machar for the up rising. The situation in the world’s newest nation has deteriorated with unconfirmed reports claiming the death toll could have reached 1,000. The government has, however, put the number at just more than 500.

As Kenya’s Foreign Affairs minister, Kalonzo remembers 1993 when he spent a whole day and night uniting Dr Machar with the South Sudan first leader Dr John Garang that enabled the two to work together.

According to Kalonzo, the crisis in South Sudan is likely to be complicated by the fact that there are a lot of illegal firearms in the hands of civilians which the UN estimates to be more than the entire population of the young nation.

Speaking exclusively to The Standard On Sunday, the Wiper Party leader warned of the potential for ethnic clashes between the Nuer and Dinka – the two populous tribes in the country.

On Friday, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states appointed Uganda President Yoweri Museveni to lead the peace process in the country. Already a four member Foreign Affairs Ministers team from member states arrived in Juba, the capital City on Thursday, to make arrangements for the meeting which will bring together, the government and representatives of a group allied to the former Machar, who has demanded the resignation of Kiir and creation of a caretaker government before he can participate in the talks.