United Nations (AP) — UN experts say South Sudan’s political, military, and ethnic divisions are widening, facing a ceasefire last year, potential new wars, and nearly 100,000 people. “A state of famine.”
In an 81-page report circulated on Monday, experts said more than a year of politics on President Salva Kiir’s slow pace of government reforms and how to implement the February 2020 cease and 2018 peace agreement. Controversy and disagreement is the frayed relationship between Kiel and First Vice President Riek Machar.
In a report to the UN Security Council, an expert committee said that dissatisfaction with Kiel’s response to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and the transition of his power base in the Dinka ethnic group “leaded to a demand for new leadership. “.
Confidential sources in Kiel’s camp said a division was formed over the distribution of government status, and the president’s “attempts to manage internal tensions among supporters failed, causing security incidents outside the capital.” Said said.
As for Machar, the panel was unable to influence government decision-making or spur the implementation of a ceasefire agreement, so the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement led by the Vice President-opposition forces “began to collapse. “. According to experts, some political and military leaders of Machar’s camp challenged his leadership, and some military officers went into exile in the government.
After the oil-rich South Sudan gained long-standing independence from Sudan, there were great expectations for peace and stability. However, in December 2013, the country fell into ethnic violence when a Kiel-loyal army began fighting an army loyal to his former Vice President, Macar, who belonged to the Nuel ethnic group.
Many attempts at peace have failed. Among them was an arrangement that Machar would return to Vice President in 2016 and escape in a new battle months later. The civil war killed nearly 400,000 people and evacuated millions.
Intense international pressure has made Macar adjutant, following the recent peace agreement and coalition government led by Kiel. However, the government failed to achieve many reforms, including the completion of the unification of Army headquarters, the graduation of the unification army, and the restructuring of the interim national legislative council.
In addition to the growing humanitarian crisis, the panel now involves more than two-thirds of the country’s population, 8.5 million, and the panel will set up a company where government security forces generate independent income. He said he had gained control of public and natural resources.
The profits earned by each security force were “not tracked, unaudited, and blocked from government use,” citing Treasury Planning documents, corporate records, and interview reviews. It was.
Experts warned that “South Sudan’s stability remains at stake” as a result of late deadlines and political impasses on key issues in the Government of National Unity agreement.
“Given the concerns of civil society, political leaders and military personnel about the ability of the consensus to bring lasting peace to South Sudan, and their early call for the resignation of Mr. Kiel and Mr. Machar, avoid returning. This requires urgent involvement, in large-scale conflicts, “the panel said.
Experts cited multiple sources of government and armed groups who almost agreed that the momentum had diminished two and a half years after the signing of the peace agreement. Experts also said that Kiel and Machar party officials were “less likely to reach an agreement because of the slow pace of implementation and the changing political position of some signatories.” Said he agreed.
Citing a statement from the Jen Elders Council, an influential organization of Dinka traditional leaders, he criticized Kiel’s leadership in a January statement. In a second statement on February 19, Jen said that “corruption in South Sudan is the driving force of political competition,” as the agreement focused on sharing power and ignoring local peacebuilding. The country warned that it was back in war. level.
The Panel also said the unified government was unable to improve the protection of civilian rights “in the face of ongoing threats from government security forces and armed groups.”
The International Famine Warning System shows that less than half of South Sudan’s population faces “high levels of serious food insecurity” and more than 92,000 people live in several areas, including the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Northern Bahar Argazar and Warab. Reported that he was facing famine. The situation is like early March 2021, “said an expert.