Just like the stalemate on the establishment of the number of States, the deadlock on its allocation among parties to the peace agreement turned to be a very contentious subject, which the citizens least expected.
When the administration of President Salva Kiir released a statement alluding that parties have agreed on the allocation of states, there were objections by multiple antagonistic groups, including the Sudan People Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO).
But last week Wednesday, under a mild weather condition at the country’s ministerial complex, Nhial Deng Nhial made a first duty-bound appearance before the press as newly appointed Minister of Presidential Affairs to announce that the parties to the revitalized peace agreement had agreed on how they can share the ten states among themselves and appoint governors. That was positive achievement, despite its happening on the back of international diplomatic pressure.
Quickly as it has always happened, the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) released a statement objecting the allocation of saying its leadership was excluded from the decision making process leading to the consensus among parties. The alliance of political parties says Hussein Abdelbagi, who is currently attending the funeral of his father, was not involved in the meeting.
But that’s not the only grievance. SSOA is in support of the initial presidential resolution passed on 7th May 2020, which allocates Upper Nile to the alliance formed in February 2018. When the SPLM-IO denounced the previous resolution, they wanted control over Upper Nile State, where they claim to be “most popular”. Like the saying goes, one man’s meat is another man’s poison.
It is not surprising as this isn’t the first time where a resolution is made another party opposes it. It has become a costly tradition derailing the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement despite positive efforts from the President to push the country forward.
Beyond these upheavals, however, parties need to find an amicable long-time solution for the sake of the suffering citizens. There will always be outstanding issues, but that can always be settled when parties to the agreement compromise and place national interests above that of their own.
The country currently battling the novel coronavirus, a disease which can only be successfully contained with the show of solidarity. Like President Salva Kiir said, COVID-19 knows tribal or political boundaries. It infects and kills indiscriminately.
The pandemic is just one of the challenges which can be better managed with a well-established and united government. The parties must also be seized with the ongoing violence and revenge attacks ravaging many parts of the country.
Despite an objection from one political party, the biggest lesson that every South Sudanese might have learned from the recent allocation of states is that, no external or foreign mediator was involved, it was an internal solution to an internal problem.
It was also a fascinating experience to see that principals to the agreement did not propose to discuss the matter across the border. This should continue even after the COVID-19 international travel restrictions are lifted. It is healthy for the economy.
Time has come for the country to move forward and parties should seek solutions from within and resolve the impasse on states allocation once and for all.