By Yiep Joseph
Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) has called on IGAD member countries to urgently convene in Juba to address the escalating tensions in South Sudan before the 2018 peace agreement collapses.
In a statement released to the media, CPA’s Director, Ter Manyang emphasized the need for peace guarantors and IGAD members meeting with President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
This call comes in response to ongoing conflicts in Nasir, Upper Nile, and other parts of the country, which the two leaders have struggled to manage despite previous discussions.
Manyang insists that it is imperative for IGAD members to engage with both leaders in order to address the rising issues and work towards de-escalating the tension in the country.
The Inter-governmental Authority on Development IGAD is a regional bloc that comprises Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda
Activist Manyang requested the bloc to urgently meet in Juba to ensure that the ongoing Tension does not escalate into the stage that may derail the 2018 peace agreement.
“CPA urges the heads of state and government of IGAD to come to Juba to meet with President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar to de-escalate high tension before they spiral out of control,” Manyang said.
he expressed that South Sudanese have been exhausted by the previous wars and continue to hope that It is the collective responsibility and primary duty of leaders to build peace in the country.
The activist added that while there are a series of misunderstandings between principal parties to the peace deal the IGAD countries have to intervene to avoid full-scale war.
“Therefore, the heads of state and government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) cannot passively watch as South Sudan descends into “full-scale war,” which is not what the citizens desire” he said.
He added that the IGAD countries bear the responsibility of ensuring that both President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar do not lead the country back into war.
“Both Kiir and Machar bear collective responsibility for fostering peace and delivering it to the South Sudanese people,” he said.
The activist appeals to South Sudan leaders to solve misunderstanding through dialogue and implement the peace agreement.
“We firmly believe that this is a critical moment to commit to resolving the tensions in the country. It is our chance to create genuine momentum towards peace” he said
However, in a statement to the media, the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions and armed clashes in Nasir County, South Sudan.
According to IGAD the developments pose a risk to the hard-won gains made in the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and threaten peace in the country.
H.E. Dr. Workneh called upon all parties to exercise maximum restraint, reaffirm their commitment to the R-ARCSS, and prioritize dialogue and reconciliation as the only sustainable path to peace.
The Executive Secretary urged the Government of South Sudan, local authorities, and all stakeholders to redouble efforts toward de-escalation and reconciliation, ensuring the protection of civilians and the stability of the region.
In response to the situation, IGAD will dispatch a high-level delegation to assess the situation on the ground and engage with the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) on measures to restore calm and advance the peace process according to the statement.