UNSC delegation to discuss S. Sudan, African issues in Ethiopia
March 10, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – A delegation from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is due to arrive this week in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to discuss South Sudan and other hot crises in the continent with African Union officials.
During the one-day visit in Addis Ababa, the members of the Council will meet AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ismael Chergui.
They will be updated on the current situations in Africa and thereby will hold deep discussions on peace and security of the continent.
The visiting UNSC delegation which will arrive on Thursday will discuss the crisis in South Sudan as peace negotiations between rival factions aimed to reach a final peace deal collapsed last Friday.
President Salva Kiir and rebel leader, Riek Machar, missed March 6 deadline set by regional mediators to strike a comprehensive peace agreement to end over nearly 15-month conflict which killed tens of thousands and displaced an some two million people.
The UN Security Council earlier last week unanimously adopted a resolution to impose sanctions on the two South Sudanese warring factions. It is also expected to discuss the matter again soon.
A sanctions committee is set to submit to the 15-member body a list of names that are responsible for hindering the peace process.
The sanctions which also are expected to target leaders of the conflicting parties include travel bans and assets freeze.
The threat a terrorist group in Nigeria, Boko Haram, and ways of combating it will also be among the issues the delegation will discuss with the regional body.
African leaders have recently agreed to send 7,500 troops to Nigeria to battle Boko Haram as a continental move to curb growing terrorism threats.
Other issues expected to be addressed in the joint discussion are the capacity development for programs of peace and security and peacekeeping mission discussions.
The members of the delegation are expected to include the French representatives to the UN Francois Delattre, US ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, and the British deputy head of the British mission to the UN, Peter Wilson.
The high level visit is part of the Security Council’s planned five-day tour in three African countries, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia and Burundi.
(ST)