The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in a press release for successfully bringing about a cease fire between warring factions in South Sudan through a vigorous mediation campaign.

The youngest nation in the world erupted into ethnically-inspired violence in mid-December between ethnic Dinka and Nuer soldiers, split in loyalty between the current President and the former Vice President.  As with many other African nations artificially created during colonial times and containing populations composed of formerly separate ethnicities and tribal cultures, the ethnic violence has been swift to swell and shocking in its brutality.

As the United States deployed military forces to assist in evacuating its embassy staff and other U.S.  citizens, the IGAD was deployed to attempt to quell the violence.  Using mediation techniques, it was able to bring both parties to the negotiating table and broker a temporary cease fire – although both sides of the conflict has asserted their willingness to continue hostilities if necessary.

South Sudan only attained independence in July 2012.  The sitting government was the first side to offer to cease hostilities.