Latest news with #R-ARCSS
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First Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Africa News Live Updates: Botswana's health crisis, South Africa's policing woes signal institutional strain
August 6, 2025, 11:04:09 (IST) Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Political crisis in South Sudan deepens as government minister is named opposition party's interim chairman A significant political crisis is unfolding in South Sudan after a government minister was named the interim chairman of the main opposition party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), Africanews says in a report. This development directly challenges the leadership of First Vice President Riek Machar and is viewed as a major consolidation of power by President Salva Kiir's ruling SPLM. The manoeuvre critically undermines the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the cornerstone of the nation's fragile peace and power-sharing government. From an economic perspective, this escalation in political instability significantly raises the country's risk profile, jeopardising the already delayed democratic transition and general elections. The resulting uncertainty threatens to deter crucial foreign investment and disrupt aid flows from international partners, further destabilising an economy already facing severe humanitarian challenges and posing a risk to regional security.
Business Insider
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
South Sudan declares Kenyan-led peace talks dead amid escalating tensions in Africa's youngest nation
South Sudan has officially declared the Kenyan-led Tumaini Peace Initiative defunct, months after the process was quietly suspended amid mounting tensions and deepening mistrust between the Juba government and newly incorporated opposition groups. South Sudan has officially announced the termination of the Kenyan-led Tumaini Peace Initiative. South Sudan raised concerns over financial transparency and the creation of a military wing by opposition groups abroad. Government representatives criticized Tumaini for undermining the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Tumaini undermines existing peace deal – Juba Speaking on behalf of the South Sudanese government delegation, Presidential Advisor Kuol Manyang Juuk criticised the Tumaini Initiative for straying from its original mandate and attempting to sideline the existing Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), signed in 2018. "The R-ARCSS has not been dissolved, so it cannot be replaced by the Tumaini," Juuk told reporters. "Eighty per cent of what Tumaini quotes is already part of the R-ARCSS. The remaining 10 per cent was not included in the original deal for good reason, you add the few to the majority, not the other way round." The Tumaini Initiative was launched in December 2023 at the request of President Salva Kiir and with Kenya's support. It aimed to reinvigorate South Sudan's stalled peace efforts by involving newly formed opposition movements, including the United People's Alliance. However, Juba now claims the initiative has legitimised rebellion and undermined a functioning peace framework. Accusations of political subversion Juuk further accused Tumaini backers of seeking to "do away with the R-ARCSS so Tumaini can take over, and they come in as the new authority of the land." He said those involved were once part of government and could not now disown policies they had participated in shaping. He also raised concerns about the financial integrity of exiled opposition leaders. "Some of them are living lavishly abroad—renting or buying villas. Where is that money coming from if not looted from South Sudan when they were in power?" he alleged. One of the Tumaini Initiative's central proposals was the creation of a Leadership Council to serve as the apex body of governance, a suggestion Juuk dismissed as a veiled attempt at a coup. "That's a coup by another name. Accepting such a model would set a dangerous precedent of political blackmail," he warned. "Anyone can now gather five supporters, move to Nairobi, and demand peace talks as a new rebel group." He disclosed that South Sudan had officially protested to Kenya over reports that the United People's Alliance had formed a military wing while operating from within Kenyan borders, a move he described as contrary to East African Community (EAC) norms. "You can't allow anyone claiming a dispute with the government to gain legitimacy through rebellion. So it's dead. Tumaini is dead," he stated firmly. The Tumaini talks were adjourned for the third time on 7 February 2025, without any concrete resolutions. Initially hailed as a bold intervention by Kenyan President William Ruto to revive a faltering peace process, after frustrations with the Italy-based Sant'Egidio talks, the Tumaini Initiative now appears to have collapsed under the strain of mutual suspicion and political infighting.
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First Post
01-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
How civil wars in Sudan and South Sudan jeopardise Africa's security
Without meaningful intervention, both Sudan and South Sudan risk becoming the epicentre of the next great African crisis read more The ongoing civil wars in Sudan and South Sudan are among the most complex and interconnected conflicts in the world today. Though distinct in their origins and dynamics, they are increasingly intertwined. This convergence is not merely a matter of geographical proximity as it involves shared actors, overlapping interests, and a complex web of alliances and enmities that transcend national borders, threatening to spill over into a larger regional war that could destabilise the entire region and beyond. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sudan: A War of Attrition and Collapse The conflict in Sudan erupted in April 2023 when two former allies, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, popularly known as Hemedti, turned against each other. Initially centred in the capital, Khartoum, the conflict quickly spread nationwide, morphing into a grinding war of attrition. As each side continues to try to gain an advantage by seizing natural resources and cutting supply lines, the consequences of this war have been catastrophic for the civilians. More than 150,000 people have been killed, and over 12.5 million displaced. Half the country faces severe food insecurity, while over 30 million people need humanitarian aid. The health system is near total collapse, with diseases spreading and medical infrastructure in ruins. Sudan now constitutes the locus of one of the world's most extensive and acute displacement and humanitarian crises. The international community has so far failed to broker peace. Mediation efforts from the US and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah could not produce any outcome, so as negotiations initiated by Egypt, the UAE, and Switzerland. External actors, often with competing agendas and support for different factions, have only added to the chaos. South Sudan: Fragile Peace and Rising Tensions Meanwhile, South Sudan, the world's youngest country, is facing the imminent risk of a resurgence in civil war. The 2013-18 conflict between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar caused immense devastation and displacement. Although the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict (R-ARCSS) was signed in 2018, peace has remained elusive. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The fragile unity government formed under the R-ARCSS agreement has repeatedly postponed national elections. Tensions have risen dramatically since early 2025 following a series of cabinet reshuffles, arrests of opposition figures, and the house arrest of Vice President Machar. Clashes in Upper Nile, Bahr El-Ghazal, and Equatoria regions have raised fears of another full-scale conflict. The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan is also exacerbated by climate change, economic instability, and an influx of refugees from Sudan. Currently, the peace process is under immense strain, with both the Tumaini Peace Initiative and the 2018 peace deal stalled. Convergence of Two Conflicts and its Regional Implications Amidst this, the most alarming development is the growing entanglement between these two wars of Sudan and South Sudan. The February 2025 alliance between Sudan's RSF and South Sudan's SPLM-North (SPLM-N) represents a pivotal moment, setting the stage for a pan-regional conflagration. SPLM-N controls large swaths of South Kordofan, and Blue Nile states adjacent to the South Sudan border. This alliance opens up new logistical and military corridors for the RSF, allowing them to smuggle arms and supplies through South Sudan and Ethiopia. In response, the Sudanese army (SAF) has begun arming the South Sudanese militias, known as the White Army, to counter this alliance, creating a proxy war landscape along the 2,000 km shared border. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If South Sudan collapses into full civil war, the borders between the two countries, already porous and poorly controlled, will become entirely militarised and destabilised. With both Sudanese factions now fostering ties with South Sudanese actors, the boundary between the two wars is blurring. If South Sudan descends into full-scale conflict, the distinction between two civil wars may disappear entirely, creating a regional war. As the region strategically located at the crossroads of the Red Sea and the Sahel with 12-15 per cent of global trade and 20 per cent of global container shipping. If the situation doesn't de-escalate, it would result in significant disruption to global trade through significant increases in shipping costs, longer transit times, and supply chain issues. As a matter of fact, the ramifications of this convergence is already stretched well beyond the two countries' borders, driven by a combination of interrelated factors that exacerbate existing tensions and instability. For instance, Uganda has been actively involved in South Sudan's peace process and has deployed troops to South Sudan's capital Juba to bolster Kiir's government. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ethiopia shares borders with both Sudan and South Sudan and has historical ties to various factions within these countries. Given Ethiopia's own ongoing ethnic conflict in the Tigray region, any escalation in the Blue Nile risks drawing Ethiopia into the conflict, particularly if its border regions become conduits for arms smuggling, rebel activity, or the movement of displaced populations. While not directly involved, Kenya is also concerned about the potential for increased refugee flows and regional instability affecting its security and economic interests. Further, countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Russia are already playing significant roles in these conflicts, whether through the provision of arms, facilitation of gold smuggling, investment in oil infrastructure, or competition over strategic access to the Red Sea. These foreign powers support rival factions within Sudan and South Sudan, contributing to the fragmentation of the conflict and increasing the likelihood of its internationalisation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A Dangerous Path Forward The convergence of the wars in Sudan and South Sudan represents a critical tipping point for the region. As the region is already contending with several challenges, including food insecurity, climate change, and political fragility, it requires urgent and coordinated international action. Furthermore, the intertwining of these two conflicts, fuelled by internal divisions and external interventions, threatens to engulf the region in a broader war with devastating humanitarian consequences. In light of the evolving situation, the international community must prioritise diplomatic engagement, humanitarian assistance, and support for regional peace initiatives to prevent further escalation and work toward a stable and peaceful future for the region. The African Union, the United Nations, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) need to intensify their mediation efforts. Establishing and safeguarding humanitarian corridors is essential to ensure the effective delivery of aid to affected populations. Furthermore, principal stakeholders must prioritise inclusive political solutions and transitional justice mechanisms that address root grievances. Without meaningful intervention, both Sudan and South Sudan risk becoming the epicentre of the next great African crisis, with profound and far-reaching implications for regional and global stability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Samir Bhattacharya is Associate Fellow at Observer Research Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
Zawya
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson & the Deputy Executive Secretary (ES) of Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), H.E. @MAWareSO expressed their strong solidarity with the Government & people of South Sudan
During a joint mission to the Republic of South Sudan, the Chairperson of the AU Commission H.E. @ymahmoudali ,&the Deputy ES of IGAD, H.E. @MAWareSO expressed their strong solidarity with the Government&people of South Sudan. In a high-level meeting with H.E. President Salva Kiir&members of the cabinet, the Chairperson&the Deputy Executive Secretary, commended the ongoing efforts to implement the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). They encouraged all stakeholders to sustain momentum towards inclusive peace, national reconciliation,&long-term development. The AU&IGAD reaffirmed their commitment to supporting South Sudan's journey towards lasting stability and prosperity. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
Zawya
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson had a constructive engagement with H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit, in Juba, South Sudan
Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. @ymahmoudali, arrived in Juba, Republic of South Sudan, this morning. He had a constructive engagement with H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit at the State House this afternoon. During his visit, he also held discussions with H.E. Amb. Monday Simaya Kumba, Minister of Foreign Affairs&International Cooperation,&senior members of the Cabinet. The high-level consultations focused on supporting the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), reaffirming the African Union's unwavering commitment to peace, dialogue,&reconciliation. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
