Radio Miraya: Interview with Festus Mogae, JMEC Chair

Gabriel Shadar: Mr. Festus Mogae reports of fighting having been coming from different parts of the country. (True) And it looks like there is no de-escalation even after the commitments to cease fire even after intervention and even after meeting here and there.  Eastern Equatoira, Central Equatoria , Upper Nile, what is your comment here?

Festus Mogae: That’s true. I don’t want to go to the details, too many details. Because the current fighting in Equatoria is not necessarily related to the fighting between the government and the IO. There are areas of grievance in the South in Eauqotria. The original fighting was really between the north and the south. You know that better than I do. The Equatorians have grievance of their own regarding their land, regarding (inaudible) violation that they consider their own rights as citizens. The extent to which they are right or wrong I can’t say.

Yes there is a continuous fight in a number of areas but we here,  sitting here, can’t say, Festus, the extent of the fighting and what effect the combatant are necessarily IO or other.  We need more information (Gabriel). We need more information (Festus Mogae). And I have said one weakness we have suffered from is that the authorities, although they are impatient with us for saying that, have never allowed the CTSAMM to do its job of going out there freely and inspecting and verifying what in fact is the identity of the fighters and what is the cause of the fight.

Gabriel Shadar:  Given the situation and what is going to take place this month. The workshop that will bring everybody and then you will be thinking about what its to be done, including about this fighting of course. Now it is time I ask to give a message to the people of South Sudan, about the whole thing that we were talking about.

Festus Morgae: Yes. I want to the people of South Sudan that as evidence by the visit of the UNSC, International Community are determined to bring peace to South Sudan. International Community are a partner with the people and the government and all the political parties of South Sudan. Everybody is anxious for this country to find peace. So you that can begin to address normal challenges of development of developing country, which they are. Therefore, that’s why we fail but we don’t give up. The International Community is not prepared to give up, because they are convinced that peace can be brought about. You have lived together some in the past, you can do it again. It is within the competence of the leaders of the South Sudan to agree to work together, to compromise.  Compromise means give and take. In other words between me and you, you don’t get everything you want and I get nothing or I get everything I want and you get nothing. You get some of the things you want and I get some of the things I want, that’s what compromise is about between two parties.

Unfortunately the leadership in the country haven’t shown enough of that flexibly of that to date. But we hope they will, they will.