The SPLM-IO party in South Sudan has temporarily withdrawn from peace talks due to deteriorating relations between leaders Riek Machar and Salva Kiir. Tensions escalated following the detention of SPLM-IO officials and violence in Nasir. The country faces humanitarian crises and risks relapse into civil war amidst rampant hate speech and regional instability linked to Sudan’s conflict.
A significant party in South Sudan’s coalition government has announced a temporary suspension from a crucial aspect of the 2018 peace agreement, citing deteriorating relations between leader Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir. This agreement previously concluded a five-year conflict between Kiir’s and Machar’s factions, with Machar currently serving as the First Vice President and leading the SPLM-IO party. Tensions have intensified due to recent clashes in eastern regions of the country.
Recent security operations have led to the detention of multiple SPLM-IO officials, including the petroleum minister and deputy army chief, following actions by the White Army militia, which compelled government forces to withdraw from Nasir. The current government alleges that SPLM-IO has ties to this militia, which consists mainly of ethnic Nuer youths who once fought alongside Machar’s forces, a claim that the SPLM-IO firmly rejects.
Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the deputy chairman of the SPLM-IO, stated that the party will not engage in security protocols associated with the peace agreement until all detained officials are released. Pierino articulated concerns regarding a political atmosphere of persecution, asserting that it jeopardizes the fundamental integrity of the peace agreement.
Conflict in Nasir has led to the displacement of approximately 50,000 individuals since late February, with around 10,000 seeking refuge in Ethiopia, as reported by Anita Kiki Gbeho, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan. The escalating violence poses significant humanitarian challenges within the country.
Nicholas Haysom, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, expressed worry that the nation may be nearing a resurgence of civil war. He pointed out that the unchecked spread of misinformation and hate speech could further exacerbate ethnic tensions, especially in light of neighboring Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
Analysts have indicated that turmoil in Sudan has aggravated the South Sudan peace process collapse, tying it to a reduction in oil revenues and increased regional instability, including an influx of arms. Alan Boswell from the International Crisis Group highlighted that conflicts related to the Sudanese war could extend to South Sudan, complicating peace maintenance efforts within the capital, Juba.
In summary, the SPLM-IO’s withdrawal from the peace process signifies rising tensions between its leadership and the current administration. The recent detentions of officials, compounded by humanitarian crises in Upper Nile, reflect deteriorating stability in South Sudan. The concerning increase in hate speech and regional conflicts further endangers the fragile peace established by the 2018 agreement, amplifying fears of a potential relapse into civil war.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
