S. Sudan’s warring parties facing further action should peace deal fail: US diplomat
February 12, 2015 (JUBA) – The US has warned South Sudan’s warring parties to respect the 5 March deadline for a final agreement to resolve the conflict or it may face action from the international community.
“I think all of us must take a new look at where things stand. Is it time for the [UN] Security Council to take action? Is it time for the African Union to become more involved?” said Twining when asked by reporters what course of action the US might take against the Salva Kiir-led government and rebel leader Riek Machar.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which has been mediating peace negotiations in Ethiopia, postponed the talks earlier this month to allow parties more time to consult their constituencies. The talks are due to resume on 20 February 20.
Both parties recommitted themselves to a cessation of hostilities agreement signed in January 2014 and set 5 March as the deadline for signing a permanent peace agreement leading to the formation of a transitional government by 1 April.
Twining said failure to reach an agreement would leave the international community no other alternative than to take tough action against the rival leaders.
“Because otherwise, what is the alternative? Both sides go back to fighting on the battlefields? We have already heard that Nasser and Bentiu have been having shelling. We don’t want this thing go on and on because it is only the innocent civilians who suffer in all of this,” he said.
“We don’t want to see a failure [at peace talks in Addis Ababa in March],” he added.
MEDIA FREEDOM
Twining also repeated his calls for South Sudanese authorities to lift orders that led to the closure of the Nation Mirror newspaper last week, saying the move is a violation of press freedoms and freedom of expression.
“We are very sorry to see something like this happen and as you remember Bakhita Radio was closed last,” he said, referring to the Catholic-owned Juba-based radio that security officials closed down in August 2014 for broadcasting news that included the perspective of rebels.
“If you are a democratic state, you must permit freedom of expression,” Twining said, adding that the US embassy in Juba will continue to “push” authorities to allow media freedom.
The Nation Mirror was closed after publishing a story that claimed government troops had withdrawn from Renk, a town in Upper Nile state where fighting is fierce.
In fact, government troops remained in the town and had repulsed rebel attacks.
The paper later published an apology for running a misleading story but security forces accused the paper’s management of deliberately running “anti-government” stories and ordered it be closed indefinitely on 3 February.
(ST)