Published on Nhomachot.com
🌍 South Sudan and IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development)
Peace and Mediation
- IGAD has been at the center of South Sudan’s peace process.
- It brokered the 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) and the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement (R-ARCSS).
Regional Cooperation
- South Sudan joined IGAD in 2011, shortly after independence.
- Benefits include economic integration, security cooperation, and regional trade frameworks.
Challenges
- Some member states have competing interests in South Sudan, raising questions about IGAD’s neutrality.
đź’ˇ Suggested Featured Image: A map of IGAD member states, with South Sudan highlighted.
🌍 South Sudan and the African Union (AU)
Membership and Recognition
- South Sudan became a member of the AU immediately after independence in 2011.
Justice and Accountability
- The AU Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan (2014) investigated atrocities and recommended a Hybrid Court for South Sudan (yet to be established).
Development Links
- South Sudan aligns with the AU Agenda 2063, but implementation faces delays due to governance and conflict challenges.
Security Support
- The AU works alongside IGAD in peace implementation, mediation, and post-conflict recovery efforts.
đź’ˇ Suggested Image: AU headquarters in Addis Ababa or an AU peace and security meeting.
🌍 South Sudan and the United Nations (UN)
Global Membership
- Admitted as the 193rd UN member on 14 July 2011.
Peacekeeping Role
- The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) deploys over 15,000 personnel.
- Its mandate includes protecting civilians, monitoring human rights, and supporting peace implementation.
Humanitarian Assistance
- UN agencies (WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO) deliver life-saving food, shelter, and health services.
- South Sudan remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian emergencies.
Sanctions and Accountability
- The UN Security Council maintains an arms embargo and targeted sanctions on individuals obstructing peace.
Tensions with Government
- Juba often accuses the UN of undermining sovereignty.
- The UN criticizes restrictions on humanitarian access and delays in peace reforms.
đź’ˇ Suggested Image: UN peacekeepers in South Sudan or UNMISS base camp.
âś… Conclusion
South Sudan’s international relations reflect a delicate balance of diplomacy, peacebuilding, and humanitarian need:
- IGAD provides the regional peace platform.
- AU ensures continental political support and justice mechanisms.
- UN delivers global peacekeeping and humanitarian aid, while holding leaders accountable.
These partnerships remain crucial for South Sudan’s path toward stability, development, and full integration into the international community.
