http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/04/us-southsudan-unrest-idUSBREA2314D20140304?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
East African states mull stabilization force for South Sudan
By Aaron Maasho
ADDIS ABABA Tue Mar 4, 2014 8:38am EST
(Reuters) - East African states are considering sending troops into South
Sudan to help enforce a ceasefire deal between government forces and
rebels, a regional bloc said, amid persistent accusations by both sides
that the other is breaking the truce.
The IGAD grouping, which is mediating peace talks between the two sides,
said in a statement it was discussing a "protection and stabilization
force" with the African Union and United Nations.
The statement gave no details on the size or mandate of any force but said
it would be part of a mechanism to monitor a cessation of hostilities the
warring factions agreed on January 23.
South Sudan's neighbors are wary of getting sucked into the violence but
are frustrated by the continued fighting, and worry the unrest may escalate
into a broader regional conflict.
Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi have shown a willingness to contribute
soldiers to the force, South Sudanese officials in Ethiopia told Reuters.
All except Rwanda already provide forces to the 22,000-strong African
peacekeeping force in Somalia battling al Qaeda-linked militants. Rwanda
has sent peacekeepers to the Sudanese region of Darfur and Central African
Republic.
IGAD's statement came as the grouping said it was adjourning peace talks
which had been making little headway towards ending more than two months of
fighting in the oil-producing country. Thousands of civilians have been
killed in the violence.
"This recess will allow the parties to further reflect," IGAD said in the
statement released on Tuesday.
The break in the negotiations could further raise concerns over the
security of the country's oil fields in South Sudan's northeastern Upper
Nile state as fighting edges closer.
The talks, meant to thrash out a deal on political reform after a power
struggle between President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar
sparked the unrest, are now due to resume on March 20.
East African governments and the international community have grown
increasingly frustrated by the slow pace of negotiations. Rebel and
government negotiators have not met face-to-face since signing the
ceasefire deal - a truce that failed to stick.
The talks have stalled over a rebel demand for the release of four
political detainees and the withdrawal of Ugandan troops supporting the
national SPLA army, as well as disagreement over what exactly should be up
for negotiation.
Western diplomats, privately, are skeptical about each side's commitment to
talks. Both may have committed serious abuses that amount to war crimes,
Human Rights Watch said last week.
Fighting has spread further north in Upper Nile state after the rebels
seized the provincial capital, Malakal, last month, the U.N. children
agency UNICEF said, although the Juba government says it is in control of
the state's oil fields.
(Additional reporting by Carl Odera in Juba; Writing by Richard
Lough<
http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=us&n=richardlough&>;
Editing by Jon Boyle<
http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=us&n=jon.boyle&>
)
Received on Tue Mar 04 2014 - 12:20:15 EST