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Enough Project Comments on One-Year Anniversary of the Conflict in South Sudan

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Enough Project Comments on One-Year Anniversary of the Conflict in South Sudan

Posted by Enough Team on December 12, 2014

MEDIA ADVISORY – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Greg Hittelman, +1 310 717-0606, [email protected]

December 14, 12014 — This Monday, December 15, marks the one-year anniversary of the conflict in South Sudan. Experts and spokespersons at Enough Project spoke out on this occasion, and are available for further commentary and analysis this week.

John Prendergast, Enough Project Founding Director, said: "More than a quarter of this new country's lifespan has been spent engulfed in a meaningless war driven by insatiable greed and a thirst for power.  As in so many wars over the last century, a relatively few senior opposition and government officials have gotten rich while the vast majority of citizens are displaced or more deeply impoverished than they were before independence.  The only way this cycle of corruption, conflict and impunity is stopped is if there is a severe consequence for those that undermine the peace process, orchestrate human rights abuses, and/or engage in grand corruption."

Akshaya Kumar, Enough Project policy analyst on Sudan and South Sudan, said: “Today, as South Sudan's war enters its second year, attention will rightly focus on the role of its leaders in driving their country into the abyss. But, this anniversary also presents an opportunity for consumers in India and China to consider their stake in this war, which is being fueled – in part -by their imports of oil from the country's hotly contested battle grounds.

Justine Fleischner, Enough Project policy analyst on Sudan and South Sudan, said: “This is a heartbreaking milestone. In one year, South Sudan has gone from one of Africa's great hopes to one of its gutting horror stories. The tragedy feels almost Shakespearean, particularly in the vanity and foolishness of the leaders to blame. But hope still beats in the hearts of South Sudan's people, and if the world will stand with them and sanction their leaders, we can prevent this horror story from turning two.”

South Sudan's civil war, which broke out in December 2013, has exacted a terrible toll on its civilian population, has its origins in a power struggle between factions aligned with President Salva Kiir and those who joined former Vice President Riek Machar. Despite repeated pledges to put down their weapons, both sides have demonstrated a commitment to a military “solution” instead of a negotiated settlement.

For more analysis, read the Enough Project’s 2014 report, “Spoils of War, Spoilers of Peace: Changing the Calculus of South Sudan’s Deadly Conflict”: www.enoughproject.org/reports/spoils-war-spoilers-peace

For media inquiries and to arrange an interview with the report author, please contact: Greg Hittelman, Director of Communications, +1 310 717-0606, [email protected]

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The Enough Project is a project of the Center for American Progress aiming to end genocide and crimes against humanity. Founded in 2007, Enough focuses on the crises in Sudan, South Sudan, eastern Congo, Central African Republic, and areas affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army. Enough conducts intensive field research, develops practical policies to address these crises, and shares sensible tools to empower citizens and groups working for change. To learn more: www.enoughproject.org.