KIIR, MACHAR MEET, UPDF ROLE IN SOUTH SUDAN WILL BE A CAUSE TO DISCUSS

US secretary of state John Kerry brought a new chapter in the long awaited approach of de-escalating tensions in south Sudan and the importance of forming a power-sharing transitional government.

Last week south Sudan president Kiir accepted that he was willing for a face to face dialogue with his arch enemy Riek Machar-rebel leader. This was during a extensive conversation with Kerry in Juba.

In the same way, Kerry had an extensive telephone interview Riek Machar on the same issue. However the latter remained sceptical about the significance of power sharing government but accepted to meet Kiir.

This is what Machar is said

“I asked him (Kerry) what would be the purpose of a transitional government? It would not be workable without a programme to implement before elections come,” he told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.

“We need to have a peace agreement first with a new constitution. Putting [a] transitional government first is not realistic,” he added.

No doubt, rebels are not interested in a power sharing government since they how weak Kiir’s army is. Without Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), the current government of South Sudan would be a history.

Rebels are accusing government of violating the January cessation of hostilities agreement by not withdrawing Ugandan forces.

But if UPDF leave south Sudan, Kiir would be overthrown in one day and this is cognitive to both sides hence presence of UPDF in South Sudan remains a giant block stalling smooth peace talks mediated by premier of Ethiopia and IGAD.

Unpopularity of Salvar Kiir among the army has and continues to be another block fruitful peace talks.  Early this month Brigadier General Peter Gatbel Wich, defected from Northern Bahr el Ghazal along with 400 fighters in protest over the alleged massacre of unarmed Nuer military trainees at Mapel.

Maybe yes or no, the rebels are taking the right decision at the right time. This what any rebel group could do. It was until 2000s when Joseph Kony accepted meaningful peace negotiation when LRA had been weakened by UPDF. Currently, LRA are wandering either in CAR, Sudan or DRC.

 As Machar and Kiir head to Addis-Ababa tomorrow (Friday) for substantive peace talks, Uganda’s presence in South Sudan will be the most crux factor in the success or failure of the negotiations.

Nevertheless, this time it is essential to keep our eyes and ears open since shakers and movers of the four month old crisis will convene-Machar and Kiir, Imperatively, if they are fighting for personal conflicts, a concrete solution will be initiated.