In a bid to resolve the crisis in South Sudan, Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni has organized a meeting between President Salva Kiir and Opposition Leader, Biek Machar in Kampala tomorrow.
The news of the peace talks comes a day after the International Crisis Group released a statement warning that South Sudan is “barreling toward a crisis” and could slide back into fighting.
South Sudan has been experiencing a crisis, and the country has been labelled a war-torn zone for some years now.
According to the International Crisis Group, the country could experience another civil war which could further destroy the foundations of the poverty-stricken nation, which can hardly hang on to a source of survival.
Something has to be done quickly to manage the crisis which may become over-blown from November 12th when opposition leader, Riek Machar is set to return to the country.
The government and the opposition are not interested in forming a coalition even after Machar’s return, which may lead to civil war.
The opposition leader, Riek Machar, is planned to return and once again serve as President Salva Kiir’s deputy. The planned return is part of a power-sharing agreement to pull the country out of a five-year civil war that killed almost 400,000 people.
“A unity government formed next week would be at immediate risk of bloody collapse,” Alan Boswell senior analyst for the International Crisis Group told The Associated Press.
“Diplomats should focus their pressure on resolving the remaining issues needed to create a viable government,” he said.
The problem, however, is the internal battle that will go on once Riek Machar becomes Salva Kiir’s deputy once again after many years of fighting between both parties. There is no denying that they both bear grudges against each other.
In what has been commended by political commentators and interest groups around the world, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has intervened by proposing a face-to-face peace talk between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar in Kampala, Uganda, tomorrow.
Reuters reporter in Sudan, Denis Dumo, confirmed that in attendance will also be head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Abdul Fatteh al Burhan.
Agencies report that the peace deal signed more than one year ago has been marked by delays, a lack of funding and questionable political will.
Critical issues, including security arrangements and the number of states in the country, have yet to be resolved and fighting continues in parts of the country.
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Header Image Credit: Radio Tamazuj