On South Sudan – We Don’t Have to Wait for 1 Million to Die With the recent ethnic slaughter in South Sudan’s Bentui, it is becoming more apparent that both parties to the conflict are not ready for a compromise and will continue to support destruction of property and loss of lives. This is a situation that must disturb the community of nations in general, but the African Union more specifically. The humanitarian crisis that we face in the next few weeks if nothing is done is catastrophic. I am reliably informed by diplomatic sources that the expected deaths from this crisis could be upwards of 1 million people! This is more than 10% of the total population! Left unchecked we are facing another Rwanda Genocide! With all the people going to the bush, lost jobs and businesses, and abandoned farms, hunger is bound to contribute even more fatalities. We don’t have to wait for 1 million to die. To stop this madness, a regional force must urgently be deployed to take over and secure the oil fields that continue to be the fuel for this conflict. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) continues to offer some semblance of intervention through its mandate to protecting civilians; facilitating humanitarian assistance; monitoring and reporting on human rights; preventing further inter-communal violence; and supporting the IGAD process as and when requested, and within available capabilities. It is however a strong IGAD led military force working with the UNMISS that will see de-escalation of hostilities. My only reservation would be the inclusion of Uganda or Sudan in this intervention for obvious conflict of interest concerns. I am aware that there are crisis talks currently ongoing in Addis Ababa under the aegis of IGAD, and I am also aware that a regional force is under consideration, but these have to be fast tracked. The fact that we are not hearing any news from Addis is worrying as it points to a bureaucratic deadlock. We cannot continue watching and counting bodies as bureaucrats argue about budgets and who has the right to command and control the intervening forces. I urge the Government of Kenya to step up efforts to ensure the deadlock is resolved, as we have always done on regional crisis. In any event, I also urge our friends the United States of America to rump up pressure on all parties involved to find a speedy resolution, seeing as to the fact that they have so far been the biggest investors in finding peace in South Sudan. Finally I would like all the concerned agencies from UNMISS, IGAD, neighboring states and the protagonists in the conflict to give dialogue a chance and allow for speedy intervention. I would also urge that the obvious temptation to put the oil and its revenues at the center of the negotiations to be avoided. May God bless South Sudan and bring peace among its people!
Posted on: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 20:44:06 +0000
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