http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/africa-in-focus/posts/2014/04/30-sanctions-south-sudan-schneidman
Witney Schneidman and Princeton Lyman | April 30, 2014 1:28pm
Approaching the Sanctions Tripwire in South Sudan
More Topics
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sudan and South Sudan
Peacekeeping and Conflict Management
Humanitarian Affairs
U.S. Foreign Policy
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has an extremely full agenda, especially
regarding South Sudan, during this week's visit to Africa. Most
immediately, he has to put in place measures that will prevent further
civilian atrocities in South Sudan. The recent attacks on civilians in
Bentiu and Bor cannot be repeated. At the same time, the secretary needs to
jump-start a peace negotiation that will lead to the emergence of
institutions of governance and security that have never worked effectively
in the country.
The good news is that the Obama administration appears to be stepping up
its engagement in a country that at one time qualified as a foreign policy
"success" for the administration.
On April 3, President Obama signed an executive order that will allow the
U.S. to impose sanctions on individuals violating human rights,
contributing to unrest or interfering in efforts to resolve the conflict in
South Sudan--indicating a growing fissure in the once-close relationship
between Washington and Juba. The order also reflects a new resolve by
Washington to end the fighting in this young nation. It is unlikely,
however, that the conflict will subside any time soon unless President
Salva Kiir takes decisive actions to end the fighting.
The decision last week by the South Sudan government to drop treason
charges against four senior politicians detained in connection with an
alleged coup attempt in mid-December is a positive action, but much more is
needed from the Kiir government.
The Obama administration hopes that the executive order will create an
"incentive" for Salva Kiir and his allies and the forces of former Vice
President Riek Machar to de-escalate the conflict in that nation.
In reality, the executive order is a stark warning to both sides that
Washington is deeply disturbed by the senseless violence, and particularly
angry that both leaders have allowed--if not ordered--massive human rights
violations, including ethnic killings and displacement of more than a
million citizens. The administration is also rightly disturbed at the
verbal attacks on the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan by
the Kiir administration. Indeed the U.N. Security Council needs to take a
firm stance on these attacks and warn Kiir and others that attacks on U.N.
peacekeepers, such as those in Bor, are unacceptable and could lead to the
imposition of sanctions.
Such an outcome was unimaginable on July 9, 2011, when South Sudan won its
independence from Sudan. In fact, the U.S. played the role of what many
describe as the midwife. But over the past two years Washington has become
concerned over the increasingly authoritarian actions by the Kiir
government, including harassment of human rights workers, nongovernmental
organizations, and journalists, as well as an unwillingness to address
problems of governance and corruption. Dissent within the ruling party was
seen as treason rather than a need for reform. All this erupted in the
violent confrontations in Juba last December and the descent into civil
war. Nevertheless, ethnic attacks and other humanitarian crimes are no more
allowable or justified by the forces in opposition to Kiir than by those
loyal to the government. The Obama administration's warning is to both.
In addition to the violence, one immediate result of the ongoing conflict
is the prospect of widespread famine. According to the U.N., the country
could face the worst starvation in Africa since the 1980s in Ethiopia when
several hundred thousand people perished. Already, one million South
Sudanese have been displaced internally or have fled to neighboring
countries.
Neighboring African countries under the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development (IGAD) are working to bring about a cease fire, enhance the
protection of civilians, and facilitate the provision of desperately needed
humanitarian aid. The U.S., U.K., Norway and China are all assisting in
this effort. But once the fighting ends, there will be need for a major
political transformation in South Sudan, one that leads to a government
that is truly democratic and committed to the development of the country,
There will also be a need for accountability for all that has happened this
past year. Anything less would be a further betrayal of the hopes and
dreams of the millions of South Sudanese who thronged the capital and all
other major cities in the country in joyful celebration on July 9, 2011,
believing that after decades of fighting for their independence their time
for peace and development had finally come.
Witney Schneidman
Nonresident Fellow, Global Economy and Development, Africa Growth Initiative
Witney Schneidman is a nonresident fellow at the Africa Growth Initiative
in the Global Economy and Development program. Formerly, a deputy assistant
secretary of state for African affairs, he focuses on U.S.-African
relations, trade and investment issues in Sub-Saharan Africa and issues
related to economic growth and prosperity on the continent.
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Received on Wed Apr 30 2014 - 15:23:46 EDT