Challenges Of Igad's Resolution In The Current South Sudan Conflict

Since late 2013,power struggle between South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and his former Vice President Riek Machar has sparked widespread civil war.Since then,Inter-Governmental Authority on Development(IGAD)has quickly intervened in conflict resolution.As the initiator,organizer and chief mediator of the peace process in South Sudan,IGAD's long-standing mediation efforts have failed to bring peace and stability to South Sudan.This study analyzes three factors that restrict IGAD's mediation as a "regional mediator".According to this central theme,the paper is divided into the following four parts:The first chapter firstly analyzes the essence of the conflict in South Sudan and its impact.Secondly,it analyzes the main reasons for IGAD's intervention in the conflict in South Sudan,and sorts out the manifestations of the difficult progress of South Sudan peace process led by IGAD.The second chapter focuses on analyzing the constraints of IGAD's ability to solve the South Sudan conflict from three aspects: the mediation institution,the peacekeeping force and its own financial resources.Chapter three will start from the different positions of the IGAD member states on the conflict in South Sudan and analyze how the interest competition among the member states hinder IGAD's mediation.The fourth chapter starts with the attitude of the United States,the United Nations and the African Union and explores the influence of international actors on IGAD's mediation.This paper holds that IGAD cannot lead South Sudan to peace in a short term due to the constraints of his own ability,the obstacles of member states and the influence of the international community.To help South Sudan achieve lasting peace,IGAD needs to make efforts in the following aspects: first,IGAD itself should strengthen the capacity building of security governance in terms of organization and resources;Secondly,IGAD should urge its member states to re-examine and reconsider the interests and demands of all parties to the conflict and to use their respective influence to promote genuine reconciliation among all parties in the conflict.Finally,IGAD should urge the "IGAD +" members,including the Troika countries,the United Nations and the African Union,to coordinate their positions,participate more effectively and actively in the changing internal conflict in South Sudan,and work out a consistent and effective solution to the conflict as soon as possible.