By Kei Emmanuel Duku
African Diplomatic Corps (ADC) and United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have called upon President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar to engage in dialogue, aiming to de-escalate the escalating tensions across the nation.
This appeal follows weeks of deadly clashes that began in Western Equatoria State and subsequently spread to Western Bahr el Ghazal and the Upper Nile region.
The conflicts have resulted in civilian displacement, loss of life, including a UN peacekeeper, and property destruction. In Nasir County, Upper Nile, civilians reportedly fled to safety near the Ethiopian border.
The ADC and UNMISS have expressed their support for the proposed visit by the IGAD high-level delegation to South Sudan, which is intended to help mediate the growing political and security rift between President Kiir and Dr. Machar.
The IGAD Heads of State meeting held last month resolved to form a high-level Ministerial Committee to oversee the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement and to travel to South Sudan to mediate the current political situation. However, this visit has yet to materialize.
In a joint press statement, the ADC and UNMISS urged South Sudan’s leadership to embrace homegrown and African solutions to address African problems, thereby silencing the guns across the country.
The ADC and UNMISS expressed concern over the loss of life and property destruction caused by the recent conflicts and called on all parties to refrain from actions that could undermine civilian safety and security.
They further called on the government to address and resolve the ongoing security challenges without confrontation, particularly in areas experiencing violence, such as Western Equatoria State, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and the Upper Nile region. They emphasized the need for restraint and de-escalation of tensions.
In recent weeks, opposition leaders suspected of involvement in the Upper Nile conflict have been arrested. Government spokesperson Michael Makuei Lueth confirmed last week that the immunity from arrest for these opposition leaders had been lifted. However, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) continues to demand the release of its detained military and government leaders.