Press Release: IGAD’s Stabilisation Force, Uganda’s Force and the Status of Political Detainees The SPLM Delegation in the peace negotiations that have been taking place since early January 2014 expresses deep concerns with the handling of peace and security matters by the regional block the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). We particularly bring to attention four critical areas of concern, to which we demand immediate examination and intervention. 1. the one day IGAD Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which took place on Thursday 13 March 2014, adopted a decision to deploy what it calls a ‘Stabilisation Force’ to enforce cease fire in South Sudan. We consider this decision to be ill-advised for principally two reasons. One, thisforce would be operating parallel to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) peace keeping operation. UNMISS has full mandate to keep peace in the country. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) took a decision in the eve of the ongoing conflict to deploy additional 5,500 forces, which are to be relocated from its other peace keeping missions in Africa,as well as from other Member States. The first badge of the additional UN Peace Keeping Force has since started to arrive in the country. The UN is an overarching and an inclusive body. Why should another force be created and deployed, if it has the same intentions as the UNMISS peace keeping force? the IGAD ‘Stabilisation Force’ was not discussed during the first round of negotiations, which lead to the signed Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) agreement. It was not part of the agenda of the CoH, as it is not provided for in it. 2. It is a fact that nearly two months into its signing, not even 10% of the CoH agreement has been implemented, much as its implementation should have taken precedence over everything else, including the next round of peace talks. One glaring provision in CoHis the withdrawal of ‘invited friendly forces’. As it is known to all who follow the events in our country, Uganda’s UPDF is still heavily and actively present in South Sudan and in battle frontlines! until now, IGAD has not come out with a single explanation as to why it has dithered in calling on its member Uganda to withdraw its force! Not only that, early this month Ethiopia’s Government unreservedly condemned the presence of the UPDF and cautioned of undesirable consequences of the conflict inching into a regional conflict! 3. There was evidence paraded by the UN that the banned cluster bombs were found in the battle fronts. Experts’opinion suggests that these highly destructive ordinances could only be dropped from the air. They observed that the cluster bombs should not have been used by the SPLM/SPLA due to obvious lack of capability and air power. It is also a fact that South Sudan Government does not have capable air force. Meanwhile, Uganda’s air force has been marauding freely in our airspace and its air force have made several attacks on our forces, scattered rural populations, their livestock and burned villages under our control. It is, therefore, only a matter of common sense that Uganda committed this high profile humanitarian crime. Nevertheless, despite the glaring evidence, IGAD has kept mute about it! 4. It has been a week now that the Government of South Sudan has dragged the four political detaineesto court, namely; Pagan Amum, Oyai Deng Ajak, Majakd de Agoot and Ezikiel Lol Gatkouth. The court comprised of judges appointed by presidential decree, has summoned that the seven other political detainees, released late February 2014, be sent back and answer for charges of ‘coup attempt ‘ and other allegations of ‘crimes against the state’. As expected, the state prosecutor has asked for maximum penalty against the accused, which is death. While we have reason to suggest that the basis of the trial and its process do not manifest adherence to fair justice, our main concern is that it is another glaring violation of the ‘Status of Political Detainees Agreement’, which was signed concurrently with the CoH on 23 January 2014. Executing the four is even a corrosive action to the very principles of working for peace in the country. It is unfortunate that the IGAD communiqué undermined this critical issue, which may jeopardize the whole peace process. Our gravest concern is that the mediating organisation, IGAD, is passive in all this sinister moves by the Juba government, knowing that those moves do not create conducive environment for peaceful settlement. It compiles to our frustration that the Monitoring and Verification Monitoring enshrined in the CoH are yet to take place. The whole complacence by IGAD smacks of facilitating the government of General Salva Kiir to prevail upon the voices expressed for democracy; thus giving him leeway to rule with an iron fist. We in the SPLM/A would like to make it known that it is not taking all these excesses going against us lying down. We are wholly aware that ours is not a struggle in futility. It is a struggle for lasting solutions to the current problems our country is facing. We will, therefore, pursue our cause until there is a way forward ushered in by inclusivity, consensus and adherence to democratic principles. These are the ideals for which we fought for 21 years and for which our people voted in a Referendum in January 2011. IGAD should either be sincere in its mediation efforts or tell us in no uncertain terms that it is with the Government of General Salva Kiir Mayardit. Gen. Taban Deng Gai Leader SPLM/SPLA delegation Addis Ababa, Ethiopia- 15th March 2014
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 11:01:35 +0000
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