12 May deadline: No Unity
Government in South Sudan
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| Pope Francis and other clerics when they met South Sudan's President and Opposition leaders who will form the Unity Government. |
Sunday, 12 May was the deadline set in a September 2018
peace agreement that 'ended' South Sudan’s deadly war. The date has now come
and gone –without the Unity Government.
Paul Samasumo – Vatican City
South Sudan’s government and opposition parties have agreed
to extend, by six more months, the formation of a Unity Government in South
Sudan.
Pope Francis reiterates his closeness to South Sudan
Pope Francis, one of the leading proponents for peace in
South Sudan and for the formation of the Government of National Unity, on
Friday, told an international meeting of religious nuns, in the Vatican, of his
closeness and appreciation for women missionaries who serve the people in
countries of great need like the Central African Republic and South Sudan. The
Pope said he earnestly desires to visit the youngest nation in the world (South
Sudan) as soon as it was possible.
IGAD helping South Sudan stay with the peace agreement
The regional group, IGAD, which has been helping to mediate
between South Sudan’s warring parties has since endorsed the request by South
Sudanese leaders to extend, by six months, the formation of the Government of
National Unity.
A Communique of the Extraordinary Session of the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Council of Ministers with
focus on South Sudan endorsed the request by the South Sudanese parties for a
six months’ extension effective 12 May 2019.
The extension is supposed to give time for the Opposition
leaders and South Sudan President, Salva Kiir, to expedite work on disarmament
of various armed groups and the integration of the rebel armies into a regular
army.
Nevertheless, there is still some mistrust among the various
factions, and IGAD is suggesting regular face-to-face meetings of South Sudan’s
top leadership in order to keep alive the peace agreement and build some level
of working trust among them.
IGAD is also reaching out to other rebel groups who are not
signatories to the September peace agreement to join the peace. In particular,
IGAD is concerned with rebel groups led by General Thomas Cirillo Swaka and
General Paul Malong Awan. Non-signatory rebel groups could potentially derail
peace efforts with their activities.
Peace agreement largely holding
Notwithstanding challenges noted by the United Nations, the
September peace agreement, in South Sudan, is mostly holding.
President Salva Kiir recently lifted a state of emergency in
the northern parts of South Sudan. The state of emergency was imposed in 2017
on the states of Tonj, Wau, Aweil East, Gogrial and Western Lakes.
The continued flouting of a UN arms embargo
In the meantime, Human Rights Watch has reported that a
United Nations Panel of Experts on South Sudan has found that South Sudan and
other nations are fueling the civil war by flouting a UN arms embargo imposed
on South Sudan last year.
According to Human Rights Watch, the UN arms embargo, if adhered
to, could help protect civilians from violence. The lack of effective
implementation, especially from neighbouring states, was not helping matters.
Human Rights Watch now wants the UN to act to renew both the sanctions and the
arms embargo, and insist that neighbouring states cooperate and not flout the
arms embargo.
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