International Crisis Group (ICG): South Sudan’s Risky Political Impasse

International actors are struggling to respond to the evolving situation in South Sudan. Meanwhile, regional actors are busy creating facts on the ground. Commentary by CASIE COPELAND for INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP.

First published by International Crisis Group

One year ago, the main warring parties in South Sudan – the government and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) signed a peace agreement designed to end South Sudan’s nearly two-year civil war. The government only signed under concerted pressure from regional and international powers; yet despite Juba’s reservations, the agreement stopped the worst of the fighting.

By mid-2016, peace implementation halted and fighting erupted between the government and rebel forces brought into Juba under a contentious post-agreement security deal. Following the brief fighting, the First Vice President and SPLM/A-IO leader, Dr Riek Machar, left Juba and remained in the bush, waging a limited guerrilla conflict, for over a month. As the international community was focused on the security of Juba and their nationals, the South Sudanese government seized the opportunity and replaced Machar with the SPLM/A-IO’s General Taban Deng Gai as First Vice President.

Last week, the UN Security Council authorised a regional protection force, on the basis of regional endorsement for the force after the clashes in Juba. Despite agreeing in principle to a protection force, the South Sudanese government strenuously objects to the mandate, leaving little option but negotiations to secure consent for deployment. The regional force is to operate under the existing UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), which includes more than 13,000 troops and police. The over-focus on a new peacekeeping mandate at the expense of political developments in the country reflects international disunity and a lack of political strategy. International actors are struggling to respond to the evolving situation while regional actors are busy creating facts on the ground. A stronger government, watered down peace agreement, a new regional force under the UN (which has little linkage to peace implementation) and growing regional divisions are some of the outcomes of the last month’s events.

UNMISS wants Dinka and Nuer to remain in ”Hurting Stalemate” by aiding rebellion

By David Aoloch Bion, Juba, South Sudan

UN Flew Riek Machar to DRC Congo

August 20, 2016 (SSB) — Hurting stalemate is the situation in which neither sides seem to win but both sides are suffering. In fact, in the current conflict neither Dinka nor Nuer will win the war over the other. It is both Dinka and Nuer who are suffering. It is high time for both Dinka and Nuer to realize how they have been turned into tragic play being enjoyed by US, UN and IGAD.

United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) want South Sudan proper to be turned into the protection of civilians (PoC) camp by encouraging rebellion. UNMISS wants all South Sudanese to go the PoCs by aiding the rebellion.  How do UNMISS aid the rebellion?

UNMISS aides the rebellion by sponsoring small NGOs to collect anger, personal vendettas and frustration of individual in Juba and aggregate them as whole country public opinion to compel the world to take quick action against the government.