South Sudan and the Arusha Peace Accord

5 months ago, in Arusha, Tanzania, the parties to the South Sudanese civil war signed an accord designed to bring peace and reconciliation to South Sudan.  That agreement is here.

Since the Arusha Accord was signed the warring factions of the South Sudanese Liberation Movement (SPLM) have only moved deeper into warfare.  The results have been horrific.  Today, however, it appears that the Arusha Accord may be gaining traction.  Today, President Salva Kiir, who famously wears a cowboy hat given to him by US President George W. Bush, has vowed to implement the deal according to the news source Gurtong.net.  It is hoped that the opposition, led by former Deputy Chairman Riek Machar will also commit to the peace process.  Over the past several days, fighting has intensified.  While this is distressing, it may be a sign that warring factions are finishing their campaigns, and striving for last minute advantages.

I believe that it is more likely than not that the two year old civil war is ending.  It is also noteworthy that:

• This is an Africa-led brokered deal, with South Africa, Ethiopia and Tanzania taking the lead.  The US, European and Asian powers have not exerted a neo-colonial presence, further relegating that massive injustice to history;
• The accord looks a lot like the South African Peace and Reconciliation deal following the overthrow of apartheid, at least to my eyes.  If it is the same kind of peace, and parties are diligent in implementation, hopes for a true and enduring peace will be achieved.

So, how does the prospect of a healthy and prosperous South Sudan look?  In the short run, the challenges are enormous.  We can expect residual violence to continue for a while, but if we are on the verge of peace, that will subside.  Grinding poverty is a destabilizing factor, as are the large amount of displaced people, both internally and externally from destabilized areas to the north and east, particularly in Sudan and the Central African Republic.  Allegations of Sudanese interference and hostility may threaten the peace.

For my readers who are primarily American, we should let the peace process proceed without interference, letting the youngest country on the planet build their own future.  It would be helpful if the World Bank forgives the South Sudanese debt, which is an effort that Americans can help with.  We should take note of the human rights issues that have occurred over the past two years, including the forcible recruitment of child soldiers, and instances of systematic rape used as a terror weapon.  While we wait for these issues to resolve under the Arusha framework, we should applaud the peace brokers from South Sudan, and leading African nations.  We should continue to educate ourselves to the issues facing South Sudan, and we should actively pray and/or meditate on behalf of peace in South Sudan.

I am grateful that the South Sudanese have a realistic, attainable chance at peace.  Bless you all.