South Sudan’s opposition leader warns of return to civil war

South Sudan’s opposition leer Riek Machar warned Sunday that country could return to civil war if a coalition government is formed by a v. 12 deline and he asked for ar months-long delay for crucial step in a fragile peace deal.

Machar me an impassioned plea to a visiting United Nations Security Council delegation that met with him and President Salva Kiir to urge speedier progress in pulling country out of a five-year civil war that killed almost 400,000 people.

“Suppose we form a government on 12th, you kw what’s going to happen? ceasefire we’ve been enjoying for over a year will erupt,” said visiting Machar, whose opposition has said he won’t return to South Sudan for good until security arrangements are in place.

previous attempt at Kiir and Machar sharing power ended in renewed fighting and Machar fleeing country on foot in 2016. issues being discussed today are same ones that led to that earlier failure, opposition leer said.

But U.S. ambassor to U.N., Kelly Craft, said council was “disappointed” by Machar’s warnings. U.S. has said it would reevaluate its relationship with South Sudan if next month’s deline isn’t met.

Security Council still wants v. 12 deline met, South Sudan government spokesman Michael Makuei said: “ change of schedule r change of program.”

opposition, however, w wants a three-month delay, Makuei said.

One key outstanding issue is security. Machar and Kiir were told Sunday that it would take at least three months to train at least 41,500 fighters and troops into a unified national army along with a 3,000-member VIP protection force.

South Sudan’s government has said international community should help fund that process.

Security Council “is of view that thing is impossible, thing is unsurmountable,” said South Africa’s ambassor to U.N., Jerry Matws Matjila. remaining issues can be discussed by an inclusive government, he said.

One South Sudan expert said international community is making a mistake.

“ U.N. Security Council took wrong approach today,” Alan Boswell, senior analyst with International Crisis Group, told Associated Press.

“Rar than fixate on v. 12, everyone should be focused on pressuring parties to resolve issues necessary to form a viable government at less risk of collapse,” he said. “re are much worse scenarios than ar delay.”

Ar expert suggested a different approach.

South Sudan’s government “has consistently acted in b faith,” said Klem Ryan, former coordinator of Security Council’s panel of experts monitoring sanctions against South Sudan. “y need to be treated as illegitimate through increased international isolation by diplomatic community until such time as y show a genuine desire to meet needs of people of South Sudan.”

world’s youngest nation erupted in civil war just two years after winning independence from Sudan as Kiir and his deputy, Machar, clashed and ir supporters took up arms. Millions have since been displaced and oil-rich country’s ecomy has been shattered.