US And Uganda Conspire To Fuel S. Sudan Conflict
After signing a Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the SPLA rebels leader, Dr. Riek Machar and the government on August, 17th and 26th, 2015, respectively the later says the foreign forces should withdraw from South Sudan within 45 days.
The rebel movement, SPLA-IO have relentlessly been calling for the departure of the Ugandan army from South Sudan.
In what appears to be with vested interest, the US, which has been mediating together with IGAD-Plus` strong member that used its global influence to pressure the two groups to sign the peace deal has been quiet on the matter until Tuesday, [October 6, 2015 ] last week.
The US Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth encountered with the South Sudan top leadership members from all factions at the White House in Washington.
The leaders including SPLA-IO chief, Dr. Riek Machar, Vice President Wani Igga and the SPLM Former Detainees leader who doubles as the SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum were on October 6, 2015, at the White House to attend a meeting with the US National Security Advisor, Susan Rice.
However, the meeting was unceremoniously called off and the trio only met Donald Booth who has been in Washington.
At the meeting Dr. Machar did not wait long to confront Mr. Booth accusing the US of not doing enough in the implementation of peace agreement that has ushered in the formation of transitional government of national unity.
According to the source, Dr Machar told Booth that: " the presence of UPDF in capital Juba and other areas is one of the major impediments to the quick implementation of the peace deal."
Machar and his group have been calling on the demilitarization of Juba first before they can officially set foot there and to them the demilitarization also encompasses UPDF departure.
Envoy Booth however, told Machar to first leave the question of UPDF and concentrate on other ingredients of the peace deal, more importantly observing the permanent cease fire.
The accord demanded for immediate and permanent cessation of hostilities and the two principals Machar and President Salva Kiir ordered their forces to lay down tools when deal was signed. In less than a week fighting broke out and is still continuing in the oil rich states of Unity and Upper Nile.
The US is reportedly bitter with the continued spate of violence despite peace agreement.
“The matter at hand is continued hostilities which no one is happy to see. The UPDF isn`t withdrawing yet and let the focus first be on you people understanding each other and stop fighting,” Booth told Machar according to diplomatic sources.
Donald Booth was sent South Sudan by President Barrack Obama`s administration since the civil war broke out in the Africa's young nation in December 2013. Booth has been attending the peace talks from the beginning in early 2014 up to end.
The US tested the waters of South Sudan together with the UPDF on 18th December 2013 and it was disastrous on the former`s when the unquestionably capable American multi-mission military aircraft- Osprey C-22 was shot by the rebels near Jonglei capital Bor about 200km north of Juba.
The incident injured two marines forcing the plane to withdraw and turn to Nairobi. The mission was to rescue foreign nationals including Americans who were trapped in different towns when the violence had just started.
UPDF took a central role and deployed in Juba to secure the single International Airport in South Sudan and diplomatic installations including; the United Nations Camps to ease the evacuation process and humanitarian access to the victims of the brutal conflict.
It's claimed that Ugandan army only maintaining defensive positions role in Juba. Additionally, the rebel leadership of Dr Machar, accuses Mr Booth of supporting the government side.