Roundup: Military option not solution to South Sudan crisis: experts

As the South Sudan political crisis intensifies after renewed fighting in early July between rival factions, experts say the two sides focusing on military victory will not lead to lasting peace and stability in the war-torn country.

The remarks came on the heels of the sacked First Vice President Riek Machar, President Salva Kiir's long-time rival, renewed calls for armed rebellion to overthrow Kiir's administration.

Machar has been removed as the first vice president of the unity government formed in mid-April under a peace agreement signed last year which aimed to end more than two years of civil war. He is now in Sudan's capital Khartoum.

The rival forces have clashed in oil-rich Unity state's Bentiu and Central Equatoria's Yei follwing the July fighting with violence spreading in the country.

There are other armed groups with loose alliance to Machar's forces, fighting to topple the government, like the recent defection of a general, Kalid Botrous, from Kiir's government.

Analysts say the continued military campaign against insurgents is exhaustive and may prolong violence if dialogue is not sought.

Deputy Minister of Information Paul Akol told Xinhua Tuesday his government was considering dialogue with rebels rather than pursue total military campaign to flash out them.

Last week, Machar's forces claimed to have taken control of the border town of Morobo, which the government denied.

The UNHCR earlier this month said an estimated 100,000 people were caught up in Yei town, some 150 km southwest of Juba, where they were seeking shelter and humanitarian aid.

The oil-dependent country has been battered from more than two years of war, and has seen inflation reach 663 percent.

Political analyst Jacob Dut Chol says the government needs to classify the insurgents.

"After classifying the various rebel groups there is need for dialogue. The military solution is going to drain resources," he said.

"There is that view by the government to defeat the armed opposition militarily. The 'big tent' policy has allowed people to take up rebellion for incentives," Chol said.

He also said that there were communities perceiving this war as ethnically motivated and fearing they may be targeted.

Abraham Awolich, a political analyst with the Juba-based think tank Sudd Institute, corroborates Chol that the ongoing conflict needs dialogue but the leaders have chosen violence as the means to achieve victory.

"We really need to ask ourselves why we are fighting, is it to change the president? If so then the (peace) agreement calls for elections in 2018," he said.

"If we continue to have violence then we shall be extending the term of the current president," he added. Endit