In South Sudan, China peacemaker role marks a first in its diplomacy
Daniel Wagner and Giorgio Cafiero say it contradicts non-interference policy
This summer marked the third anniversary of South Sudan's independence, yet few of its citizens had reason to celebrate. As the youngest member state of the United Nations, South Sudan has endured a bloody civil war since December that has virtually shut down its oil-based economy.
The conflict began after President Salva Kiir accused Riek Machar (his sacked deputy) of attempting to orchestrate a coup to oust him. The civil war quickly took on an ethnic/tribal dimension, with soldiers, police officers and civilians fighting each other. Both sides have been accused of war crimes.
Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have lost their lives and more than 1.5 million have been displaced.
The influx of hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese into neighbouring countries is creating new challenges for regional governments already struggling with refugee crises from other conflict zones.
Being situated in a strategically important region of Africa, a number of foreign powers are invested in South Sudan's future.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development - an East African trade bloc comprised of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda - has been leading international efforts to end South Sudan's civil war, without success.