NAIROBI, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- A South Sudanese expert on Wednesday said the recent attack on the rebel stronghold of Pagak by government forces near the Ethiopian border leaves a weakened armed opposition with no option but to embrace negotiations.
Professor of political science at the University of Juba, Jacob Dut Chol told Xinhua in Juba that last week's assault on the rebel headquarters located northeast of the capital, curtails the power of the SPLA-in opposition (rebels) to fight on, and will force their hands toward embracing the national dialogue initiated last year by President Salva Kiir.
"It means the opposition has been weakened. That means they will not have any activity and are left with no choice, but to join the national dialogue," Chol revealed.
He also added that the latest escalation in violence breaches any seriousness about the ceasefire announced last year, and that both parties should show the will to stop further escalation of hostilities that have led to thousands of displacements in the border area.
"It (fighting) is retrogressive. It is not a good thing on the ceasefire both parties have committed to upholding. You talk of ceasefire yet it is not holding meaning," he said.
Both the rebels allied to Former First Vice President Riek Machar and government forces have given contradicting accounts over ownership of the strategic Pagak area, following the clash that has been condemned by the UN Mission in South Sudan.
The political science don added that the violence could further escalate affecting livelihoods, if not stopped by the warring parties.
"The people there (in Pagak) also need to live, the fighting if not stopped can affect their socio-economic fabric," he disclosed.
South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Kiir and his former deputy Machar led to fighting that pitted mostly Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.
The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital forcing Machar to flee into exile.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions that have sought refuge in neighboring countries.
