People of South Sudan can now look forward to a period of peace and progress if their leaders show a bit of determination to put the past behind them and cease their hostilities. In a major development that brought relief to South Sudan and the international community, the country’s transitional unity government took office yesterday after several months of squabbling and tension between the rival tribes. President Salva Kiir was sworn in under a deal that would see him share power with ex-rebels. Under the terms of an August 2015 peace deal, 30 ministerial posts will be divided between Kiir, former rebel chief turned first vice president Riek Machar, opposition and other parties. This was a moment the country and the world had waited for. The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the formation of the cabinet an ‘important milestone’ in the peace process. Kiir shook hands with his chief rival Machar after taking oath and promised to work together for the progress of their country which is the world’s youngest nation, which has been wracked by violence and instability two years after its formation in 2011.
Civil war erupted in 2013 when President Salva Kiir sacked his deputy Riek Machar, accusing him of plotting a coup which the latter denied. What followed was a conflict which was characterized by gross human rights violations. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than two million were driven from their homes. Ethnic rivalry and divisions were played to their extreme. The rivalry between the two sides was so deep-rooted and fighting so intense that mediation efforts failed for a long time.
Machar has now been sworn into the post of vice president, a position he was sacked from five months before war broke out.The current transitional government is to remain in place until October 2018, by which time all sides are expected to work towards a permanent solution. But keeping the transitional government alive will not be easy. Two years of relentless fighting have driven a deep wedge and intense mistrust between the tribes representing Kiir and Machar, which means either side will have to work sincerely and whole-heartedly to make this formula succeed. “We must learn how to forgive and we must learn how to apologise,” Machar said. This is a gesture his rivals must reciprocate, and the international community, especially the African Union, must be on alert for signs of friction in the truce which can lead to the collapse of the government. Reports say sporadic fighting still continues between the rival tribes, causing concern.
People of South Sudan can now look forward to a period of peace and progress if their leaders show a bit of determination to put the past behind them and cease their hostilities. In a major development that brought relief to South Sudan and the international community, the country’s transitional unity government took office yesterday after several months of squabbling and tension between the rival tribes. President Salva Kiir was sworn in under a deal that would see him share power with ex-rebels. Under the terms of an August 2015 peace deal, 30 ministerial posts will be divided between Kiir, former rebel chief turned first vice president Riek Machar, opposition and other parties. This was a moment the country and the world had waited for. The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the formation of the cabinet an ‘important milestone’ in the peace process. Kiir shook hands with his chief rival Machar after taking oath and promised to work together for the progress of their country which is the world’s youngest nation, which has been wracked by violence and instability two years after its formation in 2011.
Civil war erupted in 2013 when President Salva Kiir sacked his deputy Riek Machar, accusing him of plotting a coup which the latter denied. What followed was a conflict which was characterized by gross human rights violations. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than two million were driven from their homes. Ethnic rivalry and divisions were played to their extreme. The rivalry between the two sides was so deep-rooted and fighting so intense that mediation efforts failed for a long time.
Machar has now been sworn into the post of vice president, a position he was sacked from five months before war broke out.The current transitional government is to remain in place until October 2018, by which time all sides are expected to work towards a permanent solution. But keeping the transitional government alive will not be easy. Two years of relentless fighting have driven a deep wedge and intense mistrust between the tribes representing Kiir and Machar, which means either side will have to work sincerely and whole-heartedly to make this formula succeed. “We must learn how to forgive and we must learn how to apologise,” Machar said. This is a gesture his rivals must reciprocate, and the international community, especially the African Union, must be on alert for signs of friction in the truce which can lead to the collapse of the government. Reports say sporadic fighting still continues between the rival tribes, causing concern.
