The chairman of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn today expressed frustration at the lack of progress in South Sudan’s peace talks so far but said he thought a breakthrough was possible at the current summit meeting.
He hinted that the regional body IGAD would consider imposing sanctions on the warring parties and may even try to hand off its own role as mediators if the talks continue to fail to make meaningful progress.
“This is yet another summit we are convening to address the conflict in South Sudan and the progress so far has been frustrating if not gloomy indeed,” he said, referring to the repeated breaking of ceasefire agreements.
He criticized the warring parties for showing “little appetite for peace while the people of South Sudan continue bearing the full brunt of conflict.”
He further hinted that IGAD has grown impatient with the warring parties and may refer the issue to the African Union and United Nations instead of continuing to mediate between the two sides.
“IGAD has been preoccupied with this issue for almost a year now in the hope that regional ownership of the mediation process will ensure maximum efficacy. This is a principle position taken with the firm belief that the early internationalization of the negotiation process will complicate matters. I’m afraid it won’t be long before we reach the end of the line.”
“While in our summit today we expect to make significant headway into breaking the impasse it should be clear that it is time the issue be given the full attention it deserves by the AU and UN Security Council in order for meaningful strong action to be taken.”
“We will do everything we can to impress on both sides the futility of trying to fight this conflict out, waiting for the dry season to come, and encourage them to genuinely embrace peace. We will use all the influence we can to bring the two sides back to reason.”
“It is my hope and expectation that we will culminate to achieve a breakthrough that the parties will intend to seriously honour.”
He also suggested that the region would not be able to avoid imposing punitive sanctions on the warring parties if they fail to make any meaningful progress.
Leaders of Kenya, Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia are among those participating at the IGAD summit ongoing in the Ethiopian capital on Thursday, as well as South Sudanese rivals Riek Machar and Salva Kiir.