More than a week ago, gunfire broke out between the forces of President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar despite the signing of a peace deal in August last year.

As reported in the media, fighting was sparked by a shoot-out between Kiir’s bodyguards and Machar’s when the two men met at the presidential palace on July 8, in South Sudan’s capital Juba.

Because of this, hundreds have been killed. The latest violence marks a fresh blow to last year’s peace deal to end the bitter conflict that began when President Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup.

Juba is now in throes of conflict as South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, marks the fifth anniversary of self-rule. Consequently, the authorities called off official anniversary celebrations.

It’s quite unfortunate that both forces are playing blame game for sparking off the fighting.  Since South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011, it has been plagued by frequent wars.

Who is to blame now—between S. Sudanese leaders and regional leaders—perhaps for not doing enough to help out?

First and foremost, S. Sudanese leaders have a primary responsibility to deliver peace and security in their own country. They’re profoundly responsible for their own sufferings.

Today, international media calls South Sudan a failed state, or a limping state, if you like.

However, one may not shy away from saying this war might be proxy. Why warring parties have often reneged peace agreement reached? I must confess, though no incontrovertible evidence, some countries might be fishing in troubled waters.

Nonetheless, regional leaders, especially in the EAC, need to put pressure on S. Sudan to live up to peace agreement signed in August last year. EAC leaders need to play a leading role by mere fact that S. Sudan was recently admitted into EAC bloc. Additionally, South Sudan has also assented to Northern Corridor projects arrangement.

Now, what would it benefit the EAC Partner States to have a member who is plagued by  conflict? For example, both RwandAir and Kenya Airways have suspended their flights to Juba due to the deteriorating situation there.

Whether the situation in S. Sudan is compounded, or not, it remains an EAC Partner State. Therefore, there’re reasons for the EAC to pressurise warring parties to respect the peace deal.

Likewise, AU’s role is paramount in saving the lives of innocent citizens who are being killed indiscriminately.

Like the AU Summit discussed ways of protecting human rights, in particular women’s rights, across the continent, averting humanitarian catastrophe should be at the heart of the organization’s agenda.

To achieve a "peaceful, prosperous and integrated Africa” requires directing organisation’s commitment to the common cause. In fact, maintaining peace and security across the continent is reflected in "Solemn Declaration on the 50th Anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity/African Union (OAU/AU).’’

In this landmark declaration, the Assembly expressed its determination to achieve the goal of a conflict free Africa, to make peace for all people a reality and rid the continent of civil wars, civil conflicts, human rights violations, humanitarian disasters and violent conflicts, and to prevent genocide.

African leaders also pledged not to bequeath the burden of conflicts to the next generation of Africans and undertook to end all wars on the continent by 2020, a commitment that has taken practical expression in the AU initiative on "Si­lencing of the Guns: Pre-requisites for realising a conflict-free Africa by the year 2020”.

Though the declaration is not, technically speaking, binding, it generally portrays the willingness to foster peace and security across the continent. And this willingness must be translated into tangible action, rather than a mere statement.

As articulated in my previous piece, conflict is the vilest threat to human rights anywhere in the world. As AU’s blueprint is ‘silencing the guns by 2020’, this necessitates the continent to synergise efforts for conflict prevention, management and resolution operational at all levels. However, such commitment is possible when the state is positive towards that goal, just as the saying goes "where there’s a will there’s a way”.

Over and above, even as the AU takes a step toward eliminating borders on the continent, by introducing the single African passport, aiming to enable deeper integration, increase trade and further development, it might be elusive if peace and security is not guaranteed.

Just as important, the passport is a powerful symbol of unity across Africa, and simultaneously a step towards connecting African countries economically and politically. 

The writer is an international expert.