AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - The civil war is likely to resume after the failure of Negotiations

Juba (Agenzia Fides) - The crisis in South Sudan continues after last week’s talks failed in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) aimed at finding a final peace agreement between the two factions of the SPLM (Sudan People's Liberation Movement, the ruling party), led by President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar, who are vying for power.
The negotiations, sponsored by the African Union and IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development, an organization that brings together the Countries of East Africa), failed due to the distribution of power in the government of national unity that was intended to be set up to stop the civil war which broke out in December 2013. The major point of friction between the parties was Machar’s request of being appointed Vice President.
The two South Sudanese leaders are now in danger of incurring the sanctions adopted last week by the UN Security Council, against those impeding the achievement of peace agreement in the African Country.
The negotiating impasse now threatens to reignite the war on a large scale, as the two sides in recent months have continued to arm themselves.
According to the UN, more than 4 million people have been affected by the southern Sudan civil war, of whom 2.5 million are in a state of food emergency. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/03/2015)