Editor,This is with reference to Kenneth Agutamba’s article, “Conflicts will scare away EAC’s new friend, China” (Sunday Times, January 5). In my analysis, the South Sudanese are making Sudan President Omar al-Bashir look like a saint. During the referendum, the main issue was that black Sudanese were marginalised and hence needed to breakaway to realise their potential. Now they have a country, oil and so many donors willing to support them as a young nation, but squabbles now stand in the way for all these opportunities. After reading a recent interview of the late Dr Garang’s son, you get the impression that President Salva Kiir is actually not a good leader. If he had handled the differences in the government better, we wouldn’t be having a conflict today. If the Ethiopian talks are to yield anything, then both parties must compromise their tribal egos and forge a way forward. The arrogance of refusing to share power will only escalate violence. Finally, EAC leaders should not take sides, but listen to both warring parties for the good of South Sudan. Indeed, these conflicts will hurt the region more than some would like to believe.Observer, Nairobi Kenya******************As China grows economically, we fight. Instead of investing in technology and industrial development, our good neighbours in South Sudan are in yet another ethnic internal strife, which requires the purchase of AK-47s and tanks from Russia.For a country so young, one would imagine that Mr. Kiir and Mr. Machar would put their differences apart and mind about the welfare of their poverty-stricken citizens.James Munanura, Makerere University Kampala, Uganda
