The problem of two centres of (military) power in S Sudan
Former rebel leader Riek Machar (left) and President Salva Kiir during the swearing-in of Dr Machar as the new South Sudan first vice-president in Juba April 26, 2016. The country has two armies, two commanders-in-chief, and two chiefs of general staff. PHOTO | AFP
What you need to know:
The country has two armies, two commanders-in-chief, and two chiefs of general staff.
This arrangement is expected to last 18 months from the formation of the government on April 28.
Security forces all over the world have a clearly defined command structure, where the word of the commander is law.
But not so South Sudan, thanks to a peace agreement that led to the current government of national unity.
The country has two armies, two commanders-in-chief, and two chiefs of general staff. This arrangement is expected to last 18 months from the formation of the government on April 28.
The recent flare-up, which left at least 300 people dead, has brought into question the sustainability of this arrangement that was crafted by Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) mediators in the August 2015 South Sudan peace agreement.
On July 8, soldiers allied to First Vice President Riek Machar refused routine inspection at a roadblock in Juba’s Gudele district, on the grounds that they had their own commander. This resulted in a shootout that sparked off a four-day battle.
Mohammed Ali Guyo, one of the technocrats hired by Igad to help in the negotiations, said it was necessary to maintain two armies because it was going to be difficult to disarm one side and leave the other armed.
Dr Guyo said the idea was for the two armies to slowly gain trust in each other, and then integrate under one command centre after 18 months.
This arrangement was borrowed from the 2005 Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement in which President Omar Al-Bashir and John Garang maintained three armies — the Sudan Armed Forces, the SPLA, and the Joint Integrated Unit, for a six-year interim period.
Now stakeholders in the peace agreement are questioning the practicality of having two centres of command in a country where political differences are mostly solved through the gun.
Officials on both sides concur that some adjustment must be done to the security arrangements, whose implementation has delayed for 11 months.
South Sudan ambassador to Kenya Chol Ajongo said the integration of the forces should be brought forward because soldiers from both sides are moving beyond their designated areas, especially at night, resulting in clashes.
James Gatdet Dak, press secretary in Dr Machar’s office, said that there is a need to review the security arrangement.
“A joint police force should be created to take charge of Juba’s security, instead of President Kiir’s forces roaming in town and setting up illegal roadblocks and targeting our members,” he said.
