By James Chatim

Newly formed National Parties Alliance (NPA) has announced their break-away from the United People’s Alliance (UPA), saying the alliance shifted from the agreed items concerning the formation of the High Leadership Council and the High Implementation Panel.

In a press release on Thursday January 6, NPA said they feel affiliating to UPA could lead to destabilization of the government of South Sudan and worsen the existing challenges the country faces.

The NPA that comprises of South Sudan United Front/Army- National Inclusive Movement A-NIM and Patriotic People’s Party/Forces PPP/PPF also blamed UPA for ignoring tensions along the border and recent violent incidents in neighboring Sudan ‘that strained socio-political environment and limiting opportunities for communities to advance politically.’

However, NPA added that while various groups show strong desire for peace and strategic engagement with factions, UPA has resisted peaceful resolutions crucial for establishing a sustainable peace framework.

“Following the return of government delegations from Juba, it was evident that the emergence of the United People’s Alliance was unexpected, shifting the focus of discussions away from the agreed-upon agenda items concerning the formation of the High Leadership Council and the High Implementation Panel,” the statement reads.

“The NPA recognizes that affiliating with the UPA may destabilize the South Sudanese government and exacerbate existing challenges. There is a concern that loyalty to the UPA could hinder the resolution of conflicts through non-violent means, potentially leading to renewed hostilities post-agreement implementation,”

“Tensions along the border and recent violent incidents in neighboring Sudan have strained the socio-political environment, limiting opportunities for communities to advance politically. The government faces complex challenges in engaging with factions inclined towards dialogue, which the UPA has largely ignored,”

Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) stated that the withdrawal of the National Parties Alliance from United People’s Alliance negotiating with the government under Tumaini has less impact on the peace process.

“The withdrawal of National Parties Alliance from the alliance of the opposition known as the United People’s Alliance, which is part of the opposition group that are negotiating with the government under Tumaini, the impact of their withdrawal will be less from the alliance because they withdraw as an individual and the alliance remains as it is. The challenge is that now their return back to the peace process will be much more determined by their return to the alliance,” Yakani said.

“If they decide not to return to the alliance after withdrawal, they may lose their membership under the Tumaini for all, because it’s not the first case. We have seen similar cases before. And secondly, the alliance of the United People’s Alliance is composed of groups that abandoned alliances, like SSOMA,” Yakani said, adding:

“The only entity that was alone was NAS, but the other ones, like SSOMA and SUNA were alliances. So, if we withdraw from the United People’s Alliance, then they may lose their credibility under Tumaini, but it has nothing as a negative implication on the Tumaini peace process that is going on between the government and the opposition,” he said.