South Sudan’s civil society decries military takeover in Sudan
October 26, 2021 (JUBA) – A prominent civil society leader in South Sudan has decried a military takeover in Sudan, pointing it creates a leadership vacuum in the IGAD that would affect the implementation of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.
Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO) condemned the coup which removed Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, saying the coup put at risk of collapsing peace in South Sudan.
Yakani explained that the Sudanese prime minister was the leader of IGAD, a regional bloc with the objective to consolidate peace and security, economic and integration in the East and Horn of Africa region. Sudan and Uganda were also two countries in the region that acted as guarantors of South Sudan peace.
With the military takeover in Sudan, pundits raised fears and concerns among south Sudanese that such development could undermine the peace process in the country.
“Hamdok is the sitting Chair of IGAD, so it is the first time in the continent that a sitting chair of a regional economic body like IGAD is under detention,” said Yakani.
The peace talks between Sudan and South Sudan have now been put under jeopardy because there is no longer a legitimate government in Sudan; it is a military coup government, he further added.
The civil society leader said the coup will have a direct implication on the agreement between the two countries, especially on the security arrangements, one of the critical outstanding critical tasks of the revitalized peace agreement.
He said next November there will be a graduation of the unified forces which have to be confirmed by the leadership of IGAD and a grantor of the peace implementation process.
“So, it means that in November if we are to graduate the unified forces, then we need the grantor clearance from IGAD which is Sudan.”
Prodorcracy activists in South Sudan have been frustrated by the recent developments in Sudan, as December 2019 revolution raised hopes for democratic change in their own country.
Besides reciprocating peace brokers, both countries have yet to broker an agreement with each other’s dissident groups.
Also, South Sudanese President Kiir wanted to work with the transitional government to end armed conflicts and the presence of armed groups on the 2000 km border between the two countries.
While South Sudan is yet to convince Abdelaziz al-Hilu of SPLM-N and Abdel Wahid al-Nur of SLM to reach an agreement with Khartoum, Sudan is exerting efforts to bring Juba together with the Kit-Gwang faction were underway.
All these efforts will likely be affected, according to Yakani.
As the military leaders in Khartoum continue to be rejected by the protesters and it is not clear if they would succeed to stabilize the country.
(ST)