The Role Of United States In South Sudan Independence (2005-2011)

In July 2011 South Sudan became a sovereign state splitting from Sudan after a long civil war between the central government in the north and the Sudan people liberation movement/Army in the south.This thesis is an analysis of the role played by the United States in South Sudan independence,the study investigated U.S.role in Sudan peace talk process by supporting the 2005 comprehensive peace agreement that brought an end to decades of conflict between the north and south and paved the secession of south Sudan Independence.In general,the thesis proposed that the role played by the United States in South Sudan peace process that led to the secession of southern Sudan in 2011.It tries to explain how evangelical groups influenced United States Policy toward Sudan and resulted into the secession of southern Sudan in 2011.Therefore the thesis is divided into five chapters.Chapter one is an introduction chapter.The introduction chapter is divided into eight sections or subtitle including: research background,Significance of study,objective of study,methodology,research and data source,structure of the study,conceptual framework : foreign policy theory,literature review.Chapter two of this thesis outlines the background to South Sudan split-up from Sudan in 2011,and South Sudan civil war which is explained in three deferent factors,as follows the first factor explains the war as result of the colonial legacy where the cooperative administration divided Sudan into two executive regions,each governed as a different body.The second factor explains the war as a religious and national identity conflict between the Arab Muslims Sudanese and the non-Arab Christians and animists Sudanese in the south,while the third factor explains the war as a conflict over natural resources,addressing the evaluation of South Sudan conflict with Sudan,and the peace initiative.Then the thesis talked about the evolution of South Sudan conflict with Sudan and discussed the peace initiatives relevant actors signed.And the proposed solution to the conflict(Declaration of principles)was based on previous peace talks of Addis Ababa and Nairobi 1989,Frankfort,Abuja one and two and Nairobi 1993.IGAD focused mainly on the issue of self-determination and transition period in which future arrangement would be made.The SPLM/A accepted the proposal while it was rejected strongly by the central government in Khartoum.The rejection was based on two issues,self-determination and the notion of separating religion from the state.As negotiations reached its dead-end relationships between Sudan and its neighboring interested countries deteriorated the SPLM/A advanced in the fields as a result of these countries support leaving the government of Sudan with no other alternative but to accept the proposal and renegotiate.Chapter three of this thesis examines the U.S interest in South Sudan Independence,the thesis holds that oil and human right issues as well as the security anxiety are the main U.S.concern for their national interest and could account U.S.support for south Sudan road to independence.There is also a more direct link between oil and conflict,insofar as oilfields themselves are the focus of rebel attack or the justification for government oppression,the thesis grips that the messy history of this oil–security nexus in South Sudan has raised an extraordinary tensions and U.S has been thoroughly re-counted by various observers on this particular matter,and the remainder of this paper takes account of the situation through mid-2015 in terms of intra-state dynamics,bilateral relations between the two countries south Sudan and U.S and localized community tensions.In addition to that the NIF inhuman acts as well towards the minority Christian in the south which were referred as slaves and were rejected the rights to freedom of religion expression and many others,has turned the purposes of international community most specially the religious community group in particular(Evangelicals)and the civil right movements in the united States to put pressure on the U.S.administration by then George bush who happen to be a born again Christian.Regardless of Washington's concerns of Bin Laden's growing influence in Sudan,they failed to catch or kill him in Sudan but after the 9/11 incident,United States waged a global war on terrorism and since Sudan was on its list of sponsoring terrorism,Preventing the terrorism from spreading to southern area is another U.S.concern for supporting South Sudan independence.Chapter four of this thesis observing on the U.S.engagement's in supporting south Sudan independence extending by staring on the U.S.pressurized approach toward Sudan,and it would unfold U.S.support to the SPLM/A.Nevertheless United States imposed a lot of sanctions on Sudan as part of pressure to tighten economic burden on the NIF regime,and the main reason behind that is because Sudan was sponsoring terrorism and secondly is to destabilize its efforts on the regional government and human right violations.But the differences in the views between the two administrations were that Clinton was striving to change the regime in Sudan through the opposition,and for this reasons U.S.government support the rebel movement in southern Sudan with food aid.While in the other hand Bush was convinced that the opposition in Sudan both the armed and political parties were too weak to overthrow AlBashir regime,and if they could,U.S could not guarantee who would be the best successor.That will not bring a weak regime that could be manipulated easily by terrorist organizations and regimes that oppose U.S.policy.Henceforward,U.S decided to keep Bashir on power and work to eliminate its threats by cutting its main source of power,and create a new state in southern Sudan that would guarantee United States presence to monitor Sudan closely.Giving food aid would keep southern Sudanese in their arias,and provide the SPLM/A with man power.Chapter five of this thesis aims to give the readers a conclusions and recommendations on the role played by U.S.in South Sudan road to independence which concludes on eyeing on the U.S as a key influencing factor in Sudan-South Sudan peace talk process,and among the U.S vital roles includes the formation of comprehensive peace agreement which resulted to the peaceful and transparence referendum in southern secession or unity,and in 9th July 2011 South Sudan officially declared her independence.First U.S should promote accountability and consequences and in order to impact the calculations of the warring parties in both countries,the United States must invest much more deeply in cultivating coercive influence.This involves a mix of countering sources of support for the Sudanese government's military efforts,strengthening efforts at legal accountability for individuals in both countries involved in war crimes.Second,U.S furthermost deepens diplomatic engagement for comprehensive peace that can smash Sudan and South Sudan together diplomatically by virtue of naming one special envoy to both countries.The Recommendations proposed under both countries will be in enhancements in support of accountability,peace,and democracy that we believe could make a difference in both Sudan and South Sudan.