Parties to the 2018 agreement need to compromise to pull country from brink

The political tensions between President Salva Kiir and his First Vice President Riek Machar, if not resolved quickly could return this country to war. This is something which many South Sudanese and the region are not ready for.

President Kiir has on several occasions vowed never to return this country back to war, and at this delicate moment his actions and those of Machar are being watched and scrutinized beyond South Sudan.

The two leaders need to dialogue to resolve the impasse, which is slowly threatening to drag the country to another war if compromises are not made by the two principals.

Early this week, prior to Machar and his wife Angelina Teny being put under house arrest, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in opposition (SPLA-IO) and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) clashed in Wunliet, Rejaf and Rombur areas on the outskirts of Juba.

These clashes threaten to widen if no efforts are undertaken immediately by the peace mediators and guarantors to mediate between the two parties.

The visit of the IGAD high-level ministerial delegation, which was meant to have happened earlier this week was postponed until April 3, and yet with the ever escalating situation they should have been here by now to try to bridge the gaps between the two parties.

We pray and hope that the parties can dialogue to end their differences amicably.