The thinktank International Crisis Group (ICG) has published a report saying that the IGAD peace process is the best way to end the conflict in South Sudan even though it is imperfect.

Envoys of the East African regional bloc IGAD have proposed a power-sharing agreement whereby rival war leaders Salva Kiir and Riek Machar and their loyalists would rule South Sudan together.

The IGAD envoys have engaged other African leaders and international organizations to expand their mediation mechanism into the so-called 'IGAD-PLUS'. This forum-like mediation structure involves representatives of several African nations, a high-level African Union envoy and other dignitaries.

“Supporting IGAD-PLUS’ efforts to get the parties’ agreement on a final peace deal in the coming weeks is the best – if imperfect – chance to end the conflict and prevent further regionalisation,” reads the Crisis Group report.

The report, titled “Keeping Faith with the IGAD Peace Process,” recommends continuation of the IGAD process.

“IGAD-PLUS is the proposed bridge between an 'African solution' approach and concerted high-level, wider international engagement,” says the report.

Crisis Group claims that “concerted international action” in the coming weeks, coordinated with IGAD, could lead to a final peace agreement. This 'action' might include incentives and pressures such as more threats of sanctions.

The thinktank recommends that the regional bloc IGAD and its constituent powers should remain “central to the mediation process.”

ICG further urges the United Nations to “consider” offering IGAD support and advice on how to implement an arms embargo and targeted sanctions.

Crisis Group analyst Casie Copeland says US President Barack Obama's engagement with IGAD leaders yesterday in Ethiopia “gives new credibility to threats of sanctions and arms embargo.”

Obama's top external security advisor, Susan Rice, who also participated in the meetings in Addis Ababa yesterday, was reported earlier this year to have opposed an arms embargo and blocked efforts to impose one. 

Photo: IGAD leaders meeting US top officials in Addis Ababa, 27 July 2015 (Credit: Uhuru Kenyatta/Kenyan Presidency)

Read the International Crisis Group report here (PDF)