Why the world must save South Sudan from selfish, greedy leaders

NAIROBI: A peace deal that was signed in April to put an end to 21 months of civil war in South Sudan has fallen through.

This follows a familiar pattern after similar brokered truces by Kenya, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) and the United Nations in Nairobi and Addis Ababa in the past failed to hold the country together. Forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those of his estranged Vice President Reik Machar started fighting on Friday last week.

Neither side is willing to take responsibility for the hostilities that erupted in Africa’s youngest nation in December 2013, barely two years into their hard earned independence. The blame games and apparent lack of sincerity and political goodwill have made it hard to find a permanent solution to this problem.

It is disheartening that the hostilities have so far claimed more than 10,000 lives and displaced more than 2 million while more than 200,000 have sought refuge within UN peace keeper bases. The death toll from the fighting that broke out on Friday is over 270 people.

The African Union, Igad and the UN should spare no effort to ensure peace returns to South Sudan. It could help for example, by ensuring that the belligerents are disarmed to reduce the senseless carnage by trigger-happy loyalists to the antagonists. The suffering in South Sudan must be brought to an end. President Kiir and Dr Machar must show commitment and the will to work harmoniously.

They must build the economy by encouraging agriculture and improve oil production. It is a shame that the full potential of South Sudan’s oil reserves estimated at 250 million barrels has not been realised nor the agriculturally rich soil tilled to feed its people.

The scourge of tribalism should not be allowed to kill the dream of the people of South Sudan after having fought so hard for their independence from The Sudan which they won in 2011.

The compromise pact that President Kiir and Dr Machar signed in April put in place a three-year transitional government. It should be allowed to run its full course. It is only at the end of this period that the people of South Sudan can go the polls and determine who, between Mr Kiir, Dr Machar and any other candidate who enters the presidential race, is qualified to lead them.

A situation such as the one that obtained in Rwanda in 1994 leading to the massacre off over 1 million people should be avoided at all costs. Regional powers, Kenya especially, have every reason to be concerned. Kenya holds the levers by which it can force the two to choose peace and abandon violence and destruction. Kenya should make it clear to Mr Kiir and Dr Machar that killing will not be tolerated; that their families and close henchmen will not enjoy peace and quiet in Nairobi suburbs while fomenting trouble at home.

By slapping the leaders and their families with travel sanctions and freezing their assets, Kenya will have done more to force the two to the table. It is time for Kenya to exercise its muscle and exert its weight as East Africa’s most progressive democracy.

In any case, Mr Kiir’s hold on the country is weakening and it would be counterproductive were he even to reject fresh talks with Dr Machaar. Most importantly, both of them have blood on their hands.