South Sudan’s Deputy Speaker: Sudan conflict affects peace implementation
May 30, 2023 (JUBA) – The Deputy Speaker of South Sudan’s reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly Oyet Nathaniel stated that the conflict in neighbouring Sudan and IGAD Chair has hindered the implementation of critical provisions in the peace agreement.
Oyet told Sudan Tribune on Sunday that crucial provisions of the peace agreement have yet to be implemented due to the eruption of conflict in Sudan. At the time, the parties involved were seeking regional support and guarantees to expedite the process.
“The conflict in Sudan is detrimental to the Sudanese people and countries in the region, such as South Sudan,” he said. The legislator emphasized that war is never in anyone’s interest, advocating for peaceful dialogue to resolve political issues.
Oyet explained that discussions on the implementation of key issues had begun before the outbreak of war in Sudan. As Sudan held the chairmanship of IGAD, it played a vital role in facilitating communication and negotiations between the parties. However, the civil war has prevented Sudan from exercising its mediation role as the chair of IGAD.
The leadership of the main opposition party, Sudan People’s Liberation in Opposition (SPLM-IO), has written to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the regional bloc that mediated the end of the conflict, urging them to address the matter and ensure adherence to the terms of the agreements.
“We have written to IGAD member states, seeking their good offices to facilitate the resolution of the conflict regarding the swapping and dismissal of the Minister of Defence,” said Oyet. He denied reports suggesting that the opposition had agreed to swap the Ministry of Defence with the Ministry of the Interior.
Oyet emphasized that Sudan, as one of the guarantors and the current chair of IGAD, holds a crucial role. South Sudan and other regional and international organizations, including the United Nations, are leading efforts to enforce a ceasefire that the two sides had reached in Saudi Arabia with the support of the United States. These countries and organizations have called for the parties to respect the ceasefire and are monitoring its implementation, which has been repeatedly violated. They have also urged the army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to continue negotiations to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The ongoing clashes and airstrikes in Khartoum and the surrounding areas have caused growing concern among Sudanese trapped in the capital and Omdurman as the security situation in the country deteriorates.
(ST)