Addis Ababa, December 29th 2017― The Chairperson of IGAD Council of Ministers expresses his deep concern and disappointment over the violations of the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access signed in Addis Ababa on the 21st of December, 2017 by the Parties to the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.
The current violations of the Agreement, few days after it’s signing, undermine the genuine efforts by the IGAD Council of Ministers, the AU Commission, the IGAD Special Envoy for the Republic of South Sudan, the IGAD Partners Forum (IPF), the High-Level Co-Facilitators of the HLRF, the AU High-Level ad-hoc Committee, JMEC, the UN, the Troika and the International Community, who are tirelessly and jointly working to help South Sudanese Parties to address the root causes of the Conflict in South Sudan through an all-inclusive dialogue that would pave the way for national reconciliation; and the building of effective State institutions through a democratic process.
The Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers strongly condemns the violations of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, demands an immediate end to all forms of hostilities; and calls upon all the parties who violate the Agreement to come to their senses.
The Chairperson of IGAD Council of Ministers expresses its firm position to hold all violators accountable in accordance with the resolutions of the 28th Extra-ordinary Summit of the IGAD Heads of State and Government of 24 November 2014 and any other provisions of International Law.
Finally, the Chairperson calls upon CTSAMM, in collaboration with UNMISS to monitor the situation on the ground without any delay and immediately report its findings on which party is responsible for the violations