Several South Sudanese opposition leaders have accused the East African regional bloc IGAD and the African Union of failing to find a radical solution to the ongoing conflict in South Sudan.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj yesterday, Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, leader of South Sudan’s National Movement for Change (NMC) accused the East African regional bloc IGAD and the African Union (AU) of failing to find a radical solution to the ongoing conflict in South Sudan.

“The African Union and IGAD have failed, the two bodies are watching South Sudanese fighting, they should ask why civilians are running away from their homes, “said Bakososo.

Bakasoro, who had served as governor of Western Equatoria State, said he lost confidence in the East African regional bloc IGAD which brokered the signed peace agreement in August 2015.

The opposition leader pointed out that the region was supposed to invite the government and the oppositions for negotiations once again instead of doing nothing.

“The IGAD, AU and Troika, let them go and visit villages in South Sudan, but if they are just sitting in their offices and talk and they don’t know what is going on in the country, then this is just a waste of time,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pagan Amum, former Secretary-General of the SPLM party, said the outcome of the African Union summit on South Sudan in Addis Ababa recently did not meet the expectations of the people of South Sudan.

“The resolutions of the African Union summit did not meet the expectations of South Sudanese and the world. What we suggest is that the African Union should involve the United Nations and bring a new initiative for peace in South Sudan,” said Amum.

Amum called on the African Union and the East African regional bloc IGAD to deploy UN and regional troops to protect civilians across South Sudan, saying deployment of regional forces in Juba will not solve the problem.

Amum said the National Dialogue called for by President Kiir must be led by a neutral body to ensure effectiveness of the process.

For his part, Ateny Wek Ateny, South Sudan’s presidential spokesman, said the opposition wants the African Union to be a mechanism for regime change in South Sudan.

He pointed out that the plan to change the current government will not happen. “The opposition is blaming the African Union because it did not pick any one of them to be the President and this is what they are looking for,” said Ateny.

“The African Union did not discuss anything about South Sudan, because we are going on the right path, and we are implementing the peace agreement,” he added.