South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
The 2017 cessation of hostilities agreement (COHA) is increasingly under threat of unraveling, if the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in opposition (SPLA-IO) and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) do not immediately cease hostilities.
Clashes between the two forces erupted in late February, and worsened after the arrests of senior opposition political and military leaders on accusation of stirring rebellion in Upper Nile State.
The opposition has denied these accusations, but the only way out of this quagmire is to bring charges against the detained officials before a competent court of law.
This has not been done by the transitional unity government amid continued clashes between the two forces in Upper Nile and Central Equatoria State.
If no credible charges have been brought up until now against First Vice President Riek Machar, and his allies, then they should be unconditionally released to save the fragile peace agreement from collapse.
Otherwise, the continued belligerence will force another brutal war on innocent civilians as is currently the case in Upper Nile and parts of Central Equatoria States.
South Sudanese leaders need to cultivate a culture of conflict resolution through dialogue with the help of eminent elders such as Abel Alier and many others.
