SPLM-IO Suspends Participation in South Sudan Peace Process Amid Tensions

A major South Sudan coalition party, SPLM-IO, has suspended its role in the peace deal following increased tensions with President Kiir, amidst recent violence and arrests of its officials. The party demands the release of detained leaders before participating in security arrangements. As violence displaces thousands and hate speech rises, concerns grow over potential relapse into civil war influenced by the conflict in Sudan.

In a significant development in South Sudan, a prominent party within the coalition government has announced the suspension of its engagement in a crucial aspect of the 2018 peace agreement. This decision comes in light of worsening relations between Riek Machar, leader of the SPLM-IO and First Vice President, and President Salva Kiir, exacerbated by recent clashes and arrests.

The peace agreement, established to resolve a five-year conflict between Kiir’s and Machar’s factions, now faces serious challenges. The relationship between Machar and Kiir has deteriorated further with recent violence in eastern South Sudan, leading to the detention of key SPLM-IO officials.

Amidst these tensions, security forces detained several SPLM-IO leaders, including notable figures such as the petroleum minister and the deputy army chief. This crackdown followed a situation where the White Army militia pressured government troops to relinquish control of Nasir, located near the Ethiopian border. The government has alleged that the SPLM-IO has affiliations with the militia, a claim the party refutes.

Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the SPLM-IO deputy chairman, articulated that the party’s non-participation in the security arrangements tied to the peace process will persist until the detained officials are released. He emphasized that the ongoing political turmoil jeopardizes the foundational integrity of the peace agreement.

The conflict around Nasir has resulted in the displacement of approximately 50,000 individuals, with 10,000 seeking refuge in Ethiopia, as reported by the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, Anita Kiki Gbeho.

Moreover, United Nations peacekeeping chief Nicholas Haysom has raised alarms regarding South Sudan teetering on the edge of another civil war. He pointed out the alarming rise of hate speech, fueled by misinformation, which threatens to escalate existing ethnic tensions within the country.

Analysts assert that the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan contributes to the destabilization of the peace process in South Sudan, with flagging oil revenues and increasing regional tensions fostering an environment of unrest. Alan Boswell from the International Crisis Group remarked on the concerning signs of conflict spillover from the Sudan war into South Sudan, cautioning against the further spread of tensions into the capital, Juba.

The suspension of the SPLM-IO’s involvement in the peace process reflects deepening political instability in South Sudan, exacerbated by recent violence and government crackdowns on opposition figures. The threat of renewed civil conflict looms, driven by rampant hate speech and the regional impacts of the Sudan war. Urgent measures are needed to reinforce the integrity of the peace agreement and restore stability in the nation.

Original Source: www.straitstimes.com