Obama sets Aug. 17 deadline to resolve conflict in South Sudan

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — For President Barack Obama, the birth of South Sudan four years ago was the capstone of his Africa policy. He sent his United Nations ambassador, Susan E. Rice, for the independence celebration.

Four years later, that triumph has degenerated into tragedy amid a ruthless ethnic conflagration that has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced more than 2 million others and dashed Mr. Obama’s hopes of forging a brighter future for that corner of Africa.

Mr. Obama convened a meeting of the region’s leaders Monday in Ethiopia to try to halt the conflict in South Sudan, in his most direct personal intervention since the violence broke out more than 18 months ago. He and the other leaders agreed to press the combatants to agree to a peace agreement by Aug. 17, and threatened both sides with sanctions or other measures if they do not comply.

In a discussion of what to do if the rival forces fail to agree, one of the African leaders in the meeting even suggested regional military intervention to stop the fighting, according to U. S. officials. Mr. Obama, though, was more focused on returning to the U.N. Security Council to secure international sanctions against individuals or organizations involved.

Mr. Obama used the nearly two-hour meeting to press two countries — Uganda, which has openly supported the government in South Sudan, and Sudan, which has tacitly backed the rebels — to force their allies to stand down.

“The statements we heard, particularly from the Sudanese, were constructive,” said one U.S. official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the closed session. Another official said there was a “resounding and collective loss of patience” with the warring parties, who were not represented at the table.

The situation is so grim that White House officials hold out little hope of success.

Presidents rarely get involved in a diplomatic meeting without a reasonably guaranteed outcome, and Obama aides do not usually talk about a Plan B before a Plan A has failed.