South Sudan risks returning to conflict, says deputy speaker

The First Deputy Speaker of parliament has warned the country risks returning to another conflict if deep-seated grievances are not addressed by the transitional unity government.

Nathaniel Oyet Pierino made the remarks during the orientation workshop for members of parliament in Juba on Tuesday.

“Any critical objective of the peace agreement is to address the root causes of the conflict by addressing those social-economic and political factors that promote conflict in South Sudan,” said Oyet at the meeting organized by the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) in Beijing Hotel.

He warned that the country risks reversing into another conflict if the root causes of the 2013 conflict are not addressed.

“Without addressing the root cause of the conflict, South Sudan risks relapse of conflict,” said Oyet.

Oyet subscribes to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) headed by First Vice President Riek Machar.

The SPLM/A-IO splintered from SPLM-IG led by President Salva Kiir in 2013 after a disagreement on the direction the country was heading in.

Several peace agreements have since been signed but have not translated into genuine and sustainable peace.

The United Nations agencies recently revealed that 8.3 million people will face hunger during the ongoing rainy season due to conflict and flooding.