Brussels, 16/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - A year to the day after the outbreak of the destructive political conflict in South Sudan, the youngest state in the world, the European Union called on all parties on Monday 15 December “to bring the conflict to an immediate end and swiftly reach a political settlement”.
The Council conclusions, adopted without debate on the sidelines of the foreign affairs ministers' meeting to mark this sad anniversary, express the EU's concern at the inability of the government and opposition to engage in the peace talks initiated by the intergovernmental authority for development (IGAD).
The civil war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and 2 million people have been displaced. The consequences of this displacement are very heavy for the neighbouring countries, and the war has caused “appalling violations of international humanitarian law and human rights”, states the Council, adding that the conflict has created “one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world”.
The EU says it is particularly concerned at the continued hindrance of international humanitarian assistance. At least 2.5 million people will face severe food shortages in the coming months. The EU is also alarmed at the serious violence, including sexual violence against women, and calls for an end to impunity. It looks forward to the publication of the report from the African Union commission of inquiry. The EU again expresses its full support for the implementation of the United Nations mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to protect civilians. Given the gravity of the situation, the EU welcomes the announcement made by the IGAD summit and the African Union Peace and Security Council that restrictive measures will be applied to any party responsible for violating the cessation of hostilities or obstructing the political negotiations. (AN)