A critical analysis of the efficacy of the inter-governmental authority on development in North Eastern African region peace initiatives: The case study of South Sudan.

Abstract

This study examines the efficacy of IGAD in East African peace initiatives zooming on the conflict in South Sudan. The research problematised IGAD’s long involvement with peace resolution in South Sudan resulting in multiple peace agreements on one hand and a festering endemic conflict on the other hand. To examine the immunity of the conflict in South Sudan to IGAD’s efforts, the following objectives guided the research: to trace the origins and evolution of the South Sudan conflict, highlighting underlying causes, issues and key actors involved; to analyse the dynamics that have affected the functioning of IGAD in South Sudan and to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the implementation of the Compromise Peace Agreement. The methodology used included a literature survey and interviews with officials from South Sudan, and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. IGAD’s effort besides various impediments managed to insure that Sudan and SPLA sign the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). The Somali debacle though not fully solved, the semblance of peace currently obtaining is as a result of efforts by IGAD. In South Sudan, though grudgingly the belligerents have finally signed a peace agreement brokered by IGAD giving birth to the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU). It is however on record that a series of peace initiatives were organized by IGAD member states under the IGAD mandate though weak in resolving the South Sudan conflict. These have served as a stepping stone for the TGoNU. However IGAD, has been plagued by internal and external forces its endeavour to marshal peace in South Sudan and the region at large. These include dictatorial tendencies by the donor countries as well as regional rivalries within IGAD member states. With all these challenges IGAD has stood the test of time and displayed its efficacy scoring success in the advent for peace in South Sudan and the region at large. The conclusions reached by the researcher were that the uniqueness of the regional conflicts in East Africa as exemplified in South Sudan from its genesis in colonialism's carelessness in amalgamating north and south were that there were ethnic wars which tended to defy border demarcations. This is why despite the current settlement that has brought in a Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan there remains a lot of pending political quarrels which threaten the peace. It is recommended that the real gist for conflict transformation by IGAD in South Sudan should embrace five key points: all negotiations must be grounded in realities in a conflict scenario; it is important to have clear processes and rules in a peace process; it is important to root all negotiations with the people in the conflict; there is need to establish substrata of negotiations for less empowered delegates; it is important to maintain unity in the governing authority. Other strategies for conflict transformation that IGAD needs in future include, but are not limited to, truth commissions, reparations, widespread information dissemination and even international tribunals and trials.