The SPLM-IO in South Sudan has temporarily suspended participation in the peace process due to deteriorating relations between Riek Machar and Salva Kiir, following recent violence and arrests of SPLM-IO officials. Tensions are ramping, with possible implications for civil unrest as humanitarian issues arise and external conflicts threaten regional stability.
A significant party in South Sudan’s coalition government has announced its suspension from a vital aspect of the 2018 peace agreement amidst escalating tensions between its leader, Riek Machar, and President Salva Kiir. The peace agreement had effectively concluded a five-year conflict between the factions loyal to both Kiir and Machar, who now serves as the First Vice President and leads the SPLM-IO party. Recent violent clashes have exacerbated the already strained relationship between the two leaders.
Recently, security forces detained multiple officials from the SPLM-IO, including the petroleum minister and the deputy head of the army. This occurred after the White Army, an ethnic militia, coerced government forces to withdraw from Nasir, a town bordering Ethiopia. The government alleges that the SPLM-IO has ties to the White Army, a predominantly Nuer group, which Machar’s forces allied with during the previous war against Kiir’s predominantly Dinka troops. The SPLM-IO has denied these accusations.
Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the deputy chairman of the SPLM-IO, stated that the party will not engage in any security arrangements related to the peace process until all detained officials are released, emphasizing that “the ongoing political witch-hunts continue to threaten the very essence and the existence of the [peace deal].”
The ongoing conflict surrounding Nasir has led to the displacement of approximately 50,000 individuals since late February, with about 10,000 fleeing to Ethiopia, according to remarks from Anita Kiki Gbeho, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan. Additionally, Nicholas Haysom, the UN peacekeeping chief, expressed concerns regarding the potential resurgence of civil war due to rampant hate speech and misinformation in the region.
Analysts are also troubled by the impact of the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan, which has further destabilized the peace process in South Sudan. Alan Boswell from the International Crisis Group warned of early signs of spillover violence in Upper Nile, suggesting that tensions could easily spread to the capital, Juba.
The withdrawal of the SPLM-IO from the peace process underscores the fragile nature of South Sudan’s political landscape, heavily impacted by recent conflicts and rising tensions. The detention of SPLM-IO officials and subsequent violence has raised alarms within the international community regarding a potential relapse into civil war. With the ongoing situation exacerbated by external influences, there is a pressing need for resolution to prevent further destabilization of the region.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
