Agreement critical step towards ending conflict, says Ban

28 Aug 2015

Agreement critical step towards ending conflict, says Ban

27 August 2015 - Signing a peace agreement on South Sudan’s conflict was a critical step towards ending the 20-month conflict that had devastated the county and caused unspeakable suffering, the UN’s top official said today in New York.

In a statement issued late yesterday by his spokesperson in New York, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed South Sudanese President Salva Kiir’s signing of the agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in Republic of South Sudan.

Mr. Ban commended the Intergovernmental Authority on Development Partners Forum (IGAD)-led mediation for its tireless efforts to bring the peace talks to a successful conclusion.

“He is heartened by the unity of purpose that regional leaders have displayed in seeking an end to this tragic conflict,” the statement said. “Their continued positive engagement remains essential to the achievement of lasting peace in South Sudan.”

The Secretary-General said the UN stood ready to support the parties in implementing the agreement, in close cooperation with IGAD, the African Union and international partners. “Now is the time to ensure that this agreement translates into an end to the violence, hardship and horrific human rights violations witnessed throughout this conflict,”

Mr. Ban urged the parties to work in good faith to implement its provisions, beginning with a permanent ceasefire and granting of unhindered freedom of movement to UNMISS as well as humanitarian actors working to reach people in need of urgent assistance.

The UN chief said he looked forward to the participation of South Sudan’s regional and international partners in the high-level meeting he intended to hold on the margins of the upcoming UN General Assembly session to ensure support for peace and security in the country.

In a statement last Tuesday, Mr. Ban welcomed the signing of the peace agreement by former South Sudanese Vice-President Riek Machar and former detainees. At that time, Mr. Kiir, who initialed but had not yet signed the agreement, asked for additional time to consult with his constituencies.

The security situation in South Sudan has deteriorated steadily over the past year since political in-fighting between President Kiir and Mr. Machar, and their respective factions erupted in December 2013. The hostilities subsequently turned into a full-fledged conflict, resulting in reported atrocities and possible war crimes.

According to the latest estimates released by the UN refugee agency, more than 730,000 people have fled into neighbouring countries like Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan, which has seen the highest arrival rate this year. Meanwhile, another 1.5 million remain internally displaced, often relocated to increasingly overcrowded ‘protection-of-civilians’ sites run by UNMISS.