South Sudan’s Kiir warns of full-scale war against rebels
January 27, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan will soon ignore threats for sanctions and embark on full-scale war against rebels if they continue violating the ceasefire, president Salva Kiir warned.
“This was what I told [Kenyan] president Uhuru Kenyatta when he called me yesterday to attend an extraordinary of IGAD heads of state and government and the Africa Union annual summit,” he said.
The South Sudanese leader claimed the armed opposition forces took advantage of the rainy season to prepare for continued military offensives, believing government troops would not be able to move with heavy weapons, specifically tanks to support ground forces.
“Time has come for us to change this way, now Riek Machar took it as an advantage to continue carrying out offensive against our forces since rainy season and he set the rainy season for offensive because government tanks will not be able to move but we say okay, we will not wait for that again,” said the president.
His remarks came as senior members of the country’s ruling party gathered to deliberate on the agreement for the reunification of the three rival factions, signed at a recent meeting in Arusha, Tanzania.
“If it is for the punishment of the UN or the international community, we will accept since they are not punishing Riek Machar,” said Kiir.
“If peace is [a] one-sided judgment, then we will accept it,” he added.
South Sudanese leaders risk sanctions if they fail to amicably resolve the raging conflict, which has killed thousands of people and displaced nearly two million internally and into neighbouring nations.
Last year, the United States, Canada and the European Union imposed sanctions on military generals from both sides of the conflict for allegedly obstructing peace talks mediated by regional leaders.
The world youngest nation, Economic Frontiers warned, could lose between $22-28 billion if its current conflict continues for one to five years.
(ST)