Peace might be elusive for the new country of South Sudan. Just this weekend an attempted coup has rocked the capital of Juba and, to date, opposing military factions are fighting in the streets.
Although the army repeats that it is in full control, there are no distinct news as to whom is directing these breakaway military factions, although suspicions fall on tribal leaders or politicians who are using their own tribal allegiances to leverage for power.
Some of the unrest comes from political challenges between opposing candidates, who are vying for presidency in the upcoming 2015 elections. The sitting president, Salva Kiir, seems intent in eliminating anyone in his cabinet who is not towing his line, and that includes Machar, the politician who is now believed to be responsible in part for the breakaway military factions. Machar has complained of Kiir's autocratic rule, and is pitting himself against the sitting government with his bid for presidency in 2015.
Because of South Sudan's deeply entrenched tribal traditions, the breakaway faction is following the ousted candidate Machar, along the lines of the tribe to which members of the military belong, and in this case, the Nuer tribe, Machar's own.
This kind of tribal division, could seriously undermine the nascent nation's effort to enter the global community in a peaceful and constructive way. If there is no effort from political members of the new government to unite the tribes, South Sudan could become, like many other African nations, nothing more than a warring ground, with conflict resolution a mere wish and with lasting consequences.
Source : Al Jazeera/ 12.16.13
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