UN, AU Urge Warring Parties in South Sudan to Embrace Dialogue

JUBA, Xinhua: The African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), and peace monitors in South Sudan on Thursday called on the country’s leaders to cease hostilities and urgently resume dialogue to advance the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

The AU Mission in South Sudan, the UN Mission in South Sudan, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, an East African bloc, and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, which monitors peace implementation, expressed concern about the rapid deterioration of the political and security situation across South Sudan.

“Ongoing air and ground attacks are leading to an alarming loss of life, property and civilian displacement, even as ethnically polarizing rhetoric and hate speech are rising. The targeting of humanitarian facilities is also unacceptable and must stop,” they said in a joint statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

The organizations said these escalations are fast eroding the confidence of communities and peace partners in the sincerity of the promise made by the parties not to return this country to war, and urged the leadership to recommit to a transparent, consensus-driven, and collaborative approach for lasting peace.

“They must reinvigorate visibly stalled peace implementation by addressing all grievances through an inclusive political dialogue,” they said.

The missions said inclusive political dialogue can be achieved through the release of First Vice President Riek Machar and other opposition officials and members currently under detention, as well as by creating an enabling environment to reconvene and resource inclusive institutions and mechanisms provided for under the peace deal.