Friday, February 25, 2022

South Sudan's Splintered Opposition

 The International Crisis Group published on 25 February 2022 an analysis titled "South Sudan's Splintered Opposition: Preventing More Conflict."

President Salva Kiir reached deals in January with major opposition commanders who broke away from his main rival Vice President Riek Machar.  They open space for resolving differences over the city of Malakal but increase odds of wider infighting among opposition ex-comrades.

By carving out separate agreements with dissident opposition commanders, South Sudan is careening toward more crisis.  Kiir has weakened Machar, but in so doing he also ensured that the peace process would continue to flounder.