Author: Wol Mapal | Published: 1 hour ago
UN Security Council members vote during a session. (File photo/Courtesy).
Civil society activist Edmund Yakani has welcomed the United Nations Security Council meeting set to discuss the rising security and political tensions in South Sudan.
Yakani made the remarks as members of the Security Council prepare to hold closed consultations on the situation in the country.
The meeting was requested by the United States to discuss recent political developments and the government’s current posture towards the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Yakani said international solidarity is important at a time when fighting is escalating in parts of the country.
He called on the international community to stand with the people of South Sudan and push for an end to the violence.
He said renewed military confrontations between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army–In Opposition (SPLA-IO) and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) have displaced many civilians across the country.
Yakani added that many of those displaced are at risk, with limited access to humanitarian assistance, while others continue to lose their lives and livelihoods.
“I would like to express appreciation to the members of the international community that stood up to sow solidarity for safety, protection, peace and stability for the common citizens of South Sudan,” he said.
“We are impressed to see the administration of the United States at the level of the UN Security Council, which is also a pen holder of South Sudan and the UN Security Council raising a concern to the members of the UN Security Council, demanding UN Security Council to be briefed on the unfolding political situation in the Republic of South Sudan.
“We have seen an increase in incidences of military confrontation between the forces of the SPLAIO and SSPDF across the country and this confrontation is putting huge number of civilians’ lives into risk that are displaced without any humanitarian assistance in the current context and citizens of paying a very expensive price with their lives and livelihoods,” he sadi.
The outspoken activist also welcomed a joint statement issued by several embassies calling on the warring parties, particularly the SPLA-IO and the SSPDF, to stop fighting, respect the 2017 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, and prioritize dialogue over armed confrontation.
Yakani said the call for the parties to lay down their weapons and return to the negotiating table was timely and necessary.
He said stakeholders who are signatories to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement have taken steps to initiate an inclusive South Sudanese-led political dialogue.
However, he noted that the process has faced resistance from some actors, whom he accused of attempting to undermine the initiative.
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