The Juba Eleven: excessive focus on their freedom?

Negotiating the release of eleven men held in Juba has consumed a great deal of the time and focus of mediators.  Despite the entreaties of diplomats shuttling between Addis, Juba and Jonglei, the detention of the Eleven remains a sticking point between Riek Machar and Salva Kiir.  But a successful negotiation to secure their release will not solve the crisis, and it will not return the peace.  The danger now is that too much of the mediators’ political capital is expended on a goal that is only a means to further negotiations, rather than an end in itself, and work towards a lasting settlement remains a lesser priority.