South Sudan peace monitors urge end to hostilities
October 28, 2016 (JUBA) – Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) has called for an end to nationwide military operations between the South Sudanese government under the leadership of President Salva Kiir and the armed opposition forces loyal to former First Vice President, Riek Machar.
JMEC deputy chairman, Augostino Njoroge, told the visiting officials of the African Union Peace and Security Council in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, on Friday that the fighting harms peace process.
Njoroge however believed that the peace deal was still alive but has been “wounded” following the 8 July clashes between the rival forces in Juba.
“The peace agreement [is] wounded, but it is still alive and remains our best hope for sustainable peace in South Sudan,” said Njoroge, according to the statement released by JMEC.
“Every diplomatic effort must be made to stop all hostilities and restore the ceasefire with immediate effect so that implementation of the Agreement can resume properly,” he added.
It seems regional leaders who mediated the peace talks for two years are trying to consult with their colleagues in the region on the way forward. While the Ethiopian prime Minister who is the chairman of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) visited Juba on Friday for talks with President Kiir, Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, who is IGAD’s rapporteur is expected to visit Khartoum on Saturday.
Fighting resumed in Juba in July, forcing the First Vice President, Machar, and main peace partner of the SPLM in Opposition, to flee the capital and the country when his residence was attacked by forces loyal to President Kiir.
Both the government and the SPLM-IO deny full scale war but JMEC insisted there is Fighting all over the country.
“Insecurity around the country is having a profound impact on the lives of ordinary South Sudanese. Human Rights are being compromised, livelihoods are destabilized, the economy is weakened and people are left scared and anxious,” said Njoroge.
The Peace and Security Council members visited Juba to have first-hand account of the security situation in the country.
(ST)