South Sudan 'needs peaceful solution'

Chinese envoy confident that warring rivals will join hands for the sake of national interest

China will step up its mediation efforts to find a peaceful solution to the South Sudan crisis, says Zhong Jianhua, the Chinese special representative for African affairs.

Zhong, who has just returned to Beijing after holding urgent talks with African leaders and the parties involved in the South Sudan crisis, says a quick solution is essential to end the conflict that has led to considerable casualties and economic losses.

According to Zhong, most of the recent discussions have centered on brokering peace between the South Sudanese government led by President Salva Kiir and the opposition forces loyal to former vice-president Riek Machar.

"During the discussions, I told both sides that their country, which is the youngest in the world, and its people cannot bear conflict any more, and it's important to end the conflict and find peaceful ways to resolve the issues," says Zhong, who has visited Sudan 10 times and South Sudan eight times in the past two years.

The primary objective of the peace talks, Zhong says, should be to protect South Sudan's national interests and its people. South Sudan, carved out of Sudan in 2011 after decades of bloody war with Sudan's Arab and Muslim-dominated government, has been engulfed in severe fighting for more than a month.

The crisis erupted after Kiir sacked Machar and other ministers in July. Machar and his supporters are demanding the release of 11 of their political allies jailed after they were accused of attempting a coup.

"The main protagonists belong to different tribes, and hence are under enormous pressure not to concede any ground. No one want to be the loser in this issue," Zhong says, explaining the current deadlock.

Major powers such as the United States, the European Union, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development have been at the forefront to end the conflict. Among them, China is playing a unique role by serving as the communication bridge for all the parties concerned.

"African nations like South Sudan view China and its mediation efforts in a completely different light, given that China has never invaded African countries, nor hurt the self-esteem of African people," Zhong says.

"Expectations about China and its involvement in African issues are quite high, especially as China, with its strategy of being a good friend, good partner and good brother, has been a source of inspiration for several African nations.

"China respects the sovereignty of South Sudan and will never impose its own will on others. We will let the country, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, a seven-country trading bloc based in Eastern Africa, take the lead in resolving the issue.

"We have listened to all the parties involved and asked them what they expect us to do. If they want us to send messages to each other, we will do so. Our involvement in the issue has increased the role of mediation, which we feel is the best way to solve the problem before it spreads further," Zhong says.

Besides South Sudan, Zhong has also visited surrounding African countries including Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, and the headquarters of the African Union in Ethiopia.

The recent bout of fighting has affected oil production, which accounts for at least 97 percent of government revenue in South Sudan. China also has energy interests in South Sudan, as the biggest investor in its oilfields through national oil giants China National Petroleum Corp and Sinopec.

The nearly four-week long fighting in South Sudan has been ringing alarm bells in the world over the prospect that the conflict could spiral into full-blown civil war, spawning atrocities or making South Sudan the world's next failed state.

According to one estimate, the conflict may have killed as many as 10,000 people, although there is no official toll for those killed in the nation. The United Nations has said that more than 1,000 people have died.

Neighboring countries are concerned South Sudan may become the next Somalia if the conflict cannot be resolved properly.

Zhong underscored the need for collective efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.

"All efforts are needed and necessary. It is important for all concerned to come together and push for peaceful solutions," he says.

"We are more than willing to meet and communicate with all the parties concerned."

Reuters contributed to the story.

zhouwa@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 01/17/2014 page3)