Dear Advocate of Reasoning,
The “fragile” peace in South Sudan, brokered by the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, is under severe threat. Recent clashes between government forces and Machar-linked militias have plunged the country into uncertainty, putting the democratic transition at risk. The arrest of Vice President Riek Machar and the condemnation of the move by his party as an “unlawful house arrest” have further escalated tensions.
The peace agreement, which aimed to transition the government to democracy after a brutal civil war, has been extended four times, with the latest delay pushing elections to December 2026.
The foundation of the peace deal remains fragile, with unfulfilled promises of constitutional reforms, power-sharing arrangements, and a unified national army. The country’s national army, the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), remains largely aligned with different factions, lacking unified command or professional training.
The escalating standoff is a significant threat to the country’s relative peace and could return the people to full-scale war, further worsening a humanitarian disaster in a country already ravaged by years of conflict.
With over two-thirds of South Sudan’s population living below the global poverty line of $2.15 per day and infrastructure barely functional, the present situation is nothing short of a continuing humanitarian emergency. The United Nations Secretary General and the head of the UN Mission in South Sudan have urged the leaders to “put away the weapons” and prioritise the people’s welfare.
Charles Undeland, the World Bank Group’s country manager, also noted that there “are real opportunities to improve people’s livelihoods” through better management and utilisation of resources and fostering a stable, secure environment. But the current situation raises serious concerns about the country’s ability to achieve this goal.
Will South Sudan’s leaders prioritise the people’s welfare and implement the peace agreement, or will the country slide back into chaos? The future of democracy in South Sudan hangs in the balance.
This is Letters of Reasoning, and this is from The Liberalist.
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