Key Highlights
- Speaking in Addis Ababa during his end of July 2015 tour in Africa, President Barack Obama convened a meeting of regional leaders to end the ongoing South Sudan conflict.
- Obama and other leaders agreed to force the combatants to agree to a peace agreement by 17th August.
- President Obama warned of grave consequences if South Sudan President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar failed to sign a final peace agreement by the stipulated time.
- He threatened both sides with sanctions if they failed to comply with the agreement.
- The ongoing civil crisis broke up in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir fired his deputy Riek Machar for allegedly planning a coup.
The Ongoing Peace Deal
On Thursday 13th August, 2015, the South Sudan mediator, the IGAD revealed the parties’ reluctance to sign the peace deal.
As it is, the international community is running out of patience for the key players in the prolonged crisis that has left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands others displaced.
OSINT sources also indicated lateness on the part of Kiir’s government in attending the ongoing talks in Addis Ababa. Instead of Thursday, Kiir could be reporting on Friday for the talks.
Their also happens to be a split in the opposition between those eager for success of the peace deal and those planning to stall it.
Gathoth Gatkuoth and Peter Gadet who were among rebel top commander were sacked last month and are among those threatening to fight the peace deal between Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir.
The breakaway rebel commanders accused Riek Machar of putting his interest of wanting a position for himself before the interest of the South Sudanese people.
Forecast
The parties’ reluctance in signing the agreement is likely to slur and stall the progress of the peace deal.
However, the threat against the elites stalling South Sudan’s ongoing peace process ahead of the 17 August deadline could help force an agreement. The players could face high level sanctions and asset seizures as part of United States President Barack Obama’s strategy to restore peace in Africa’s youngest nation.
