13 February 2014 - The Security Council today stressed that dialogue between parties to the South Sudan conflict would only succeed if “fully inclusive”, and called for all political leaders to be allowed to participate.

“They (Council members) … urged the immediate release of the remaining four detained leaders …. and called for all the detained and formerly detained political leaders to be allowed to take part in the political process,” the statement said.

The 15-nation body expressed strong support for mediation efforts led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and welcomed the start of the second round of talks between on 11 February.

The talks, between the South Sudanese government and Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in opposition, taking place in the Ethiopian resort Debre Zeit, achieved a ceasefire last month between the two sides.

What began as a political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy president, Riek Machar erupted into full-scale conflict in mid-December.

Over the past two months, thousands of people are believed to have been killed by the fighting and some 870,000 others have fled their homes, 145,000 of them to neighbouring countries and 75,000 to eight UNMISS bases.

Council members also condemned violations of the ceasefire agreement by all parties, resulting in further violence, death and destruction.

“The Security Council called for the redeployment and/or progressive withdrawal of allied forces invited by either side … and warned of the serious consequences which could result from any regionalization of the conflict,” the statement said.

“They also noted with serious concern the February 10 reports alleging the indiscriminate use of cluster munitions by parties to the conflict,” it added.

The Council urged IGAD’s establishment of the Joint Technical Committee, as well as immediate deployment of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism.

It strongly condemned widespread violation of human rights and international law, including “targeted violence against civilians and specific ethnic and other communities”, that have resulted in the loss of many thousands of civilian lives.

Council members expressed concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation and fast-approaching rainy season. “That, when combined with the existing food insecurity crisis of 3.7 million South Sudanese may result in famine in 2015 and regional instability.”

They demanded that all parties refrain from any acts of violence against civilians, especially women and children, and expedite the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian organizations for the timely delivery of assistance.

The 15-nation body strongly condemned all actions by government and opposition forces that obstruct or impede the work of UNMISS and threaten its personnel and stressed that all such actions must cease.

“In this regard, (Council members) renewed their call to the Government of South Sudan to immediately accept … additional troops and police, without conditions and regardless of country of origin,” they said in the statement.

The statement followed a briefing to the Council yesterday by Hervé Ladsous, Under Secretary-General of UN Peacekeeping Operations, Valerie Amos, Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, and Hilde Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNMISS (via videoconference from Juba).