UN SG assures partnership in implementing S. Sudan’s peace agreement
September 15, 2015 (NEW YORK) – In a letter addressed to the South Sudan’s former vice president, Riek Machar, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, has commended the opposition’s leadership for signing the peace agreement to end the 20-month long civil war in the country, assuring that the world body will work closely with the parties in implementing the deal.
“Excellency, I wish to commend you for the leadership you have demonstrated in signing the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan…The United Nations stands ready to work in close partnership with you, the other signatories, and the future Transitional Government of National Unity, to ensure the successful implementation of the Agreement and consolidate peace in South Sudan,” partly reads the letter, dated 10 September, addressed to Machar and signed by the UN secretary general.
“In this connection, I have the honour to invite you to a High-level meeting on South Sudan, to be held on 29 September 2015 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., in the margins of the seventieth session of the General Assembly. The meeting will be held at the Heads of State level with the aim of galvanizing the international community’s support for the implementation of the peace agreement,” it reads.
The summit is expected to discuss needs of the would-be formed transitional government and pressure and support the world leaders and governments should provide in implementing the deal.
South Sudan’s armed opposition has acknowledge receipt of the invitation, adding that Machar will lead a high-level delegation to the summit.
President Kiir’s government also revealed that the head of state may not be leading the delegation and will instead delegate his deputy, James Wani Igga, to represent the government in the meeting.
The two warring parties signed the deal on 17 and 26 August to end the war which erupted on 15 December 2013, when internal political debates within the leadership of the ruling SPLM party over reforms turned violent.
Tens of thousands of people have died so far, hundreds of thousands forced to seek shelter under protection of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and millions more displaced internally and to the neighbouring countries of Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.
United Nations warned it will impose arms embargo and targeted sanctions on individuals or parties that will be seen to be spoiling the implementation of the agreement.
(ST)