South Sudan on same staircase to break up as former Yugoslavia says former defence chief

Peace in warn-torn South Sudan can be achieved only if both President Salva Kiir and rebel leader and former vice-president Riek Machar are excluded from the political process, the country's former deputy defence minister has told IBTimes UK.

Majak D'Agoot, who in 2013 was arrested for allegedly instigating fighting in the capital Juba, claimed that both Kiir and Machar were responsible for the state of anarchy in the country.

South Sudan became the world's newest nation after declaring independence from Sudan in 2011. However, in 2013 the country was plunged into civil war, as President Kiir – of the Dinka ethnic group – fired his deputy Machar – from the Nuer group – and his cabinet.

Ethnic-related violence has spread, with militia groups carrying out attacks in villages and areas known to be inhabited by either the Dinka or Nuer tribes.

As many as 50,000 people have been killed – as per estimates by the United Nations – amid allegations of crimes against humanity committed by both sides, including rape, torture and the use of child soldiers. More than one million people have also fled the country due to violence.

"There is a potential threat of a total breakdown of the state. It's a level of degeneration that was unexpected," D'Agoot said.

"Policies that are being implemented are pushing people apart and destroying the social fabric. There is intense hate speech, ethnic mobilisation and this is leading to fragmentation. South Sudan has been placed by these two leaders [Kiir and Machar] in the staircase to former Yugoslavia," he continued, referring to the ethnic conflicts (1991-2001) that led up to the breakup of the Balkan country.

Government's position

Machar fled South Sudan following as war broke in the country. His return to South Sudan and his reinstatement as vice president in April had restored hopes for the implementation of the peace process .

However, in July, Machar fled Juba – and consequently South Sudan – following deadly fighting that left at least 300 people dead. The rebel leader, who is now believed to be in South Africa, was then replaced by Taban Deng Gai.

A South Sudanese envoy in London has blamed Machar and the opposition still loyal to him for the ongoing unrest and failure to implement a peace deal signed last August.

"The major obstacles to the implementation of the peace deal rest primarily on the lack of commitment on the part of Riek's SPLM-IO [ Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition], disagreements on some key clauses such as the cantonment areas, the continuous violations of the ceasefire by the opposition and the inherent flaws in the Peace Agreement itself," Sabit A Alley, South Sudanese ambassador to the UK, told IBTimes UK.

He added that Machar's replacement with Gai, who he said has been very cooperative with Kiir, was "working well and it is advisable that it should not be disturbed."

Alley confirmed the humanitarian situation in the country was deeply concerning and added that the government had reached out to the international community for help.

"Recently the government set up a high level committee to oversee the delivery of humanitarian assistance to areas of need without any hindrance. With this positive development the international community is urged to quickly come to the help of the people of South Sudan at their time greatest need. What is needed is for these countries to practically, materially and financially, assist the transitional government to implement the agreement."