Activist says regional silence on South Sudan’s ceasefire violations “worrying”

JUBA – Silence of the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat and Heads of States on ceasefire violations by South Sudan’s rival factions is “worrying”, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said on Sunday.

The armed opposition group (SPLM/A-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar accused South Sudan’s army of attacking its positions in various location of Upper Nile state, contrary provision of the ceasefire agreement.

A spokesperson for the military dismissed the armed opposition’s claims.

“Community Empowerment for Progress Organization is disturbed by this silent position of EAC on the political situation in South Sudan regardless of EAC not being part of the peace agreement process from 2016,” CEPO’s Executive Director, Edmund Yakani said in a statement issued on Sunday.

“EAC has a moral obligation to demonstrate concern about the political situation in South Sudan,” he added.

CEPO said the EAC may be unreceptive to resolving South Sudan’s political tensions among peace partners due to the country’s failure to pay its membership fees and ratification of the bloc’s peace and security protocol, but being a member means that partners are obligated to ensure peace and instability, even if it means just issuing a statement to that effect

Yakani condemned the silence of the EAC Secretariat and heads of states, arguing that by assuming Juba’s political heat, the neighbours were treading on a dangerous path.

The Secretariat is the executive organ of the EAC tasked with ensuring that the regulations and directives adopted by the Council of Ministers are properly implemented and provides it with strategic recommendations.

“It is meaningless to have a protocol on peace and security that is not exercised, even in the form of a solidarity statement with reference to the protocol,” stressed Yakani.

He added, “The EAC peace and security protocol enshrined good values for peace and security if they are exercised, and the South Sudan situation requires the exercise of the protocol,”

Last week, the Troika countries (United States, United Kingdom and Norway) condemned the reported attacks by South Sudan Peoples’ Defense Forces (SSPDF) on SPLM/A-IO positions in Jekau and other towns in Maiwut County of Upper Nile State between March 19-20.