Brussels, 12/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Union has welcomed the peace agreement signed in South Sudan on 26 August, hailing it as a unique opportunity for this war-torn country, the world's youngest state, to move towards a future of stability and, in Luxembourg on Monday 12 October, called for this much flouted agreement to be implemented in full.
The conclusions adopted without debate by the Council of the EU on the sidelines of the foreign ministers' meeting are a plea for recommitment to the agreement so that the people can reap the dividends of peace and the expression of the keenest concerns over the alarming humanitarian situation in the country. The Council urges all parties to respect the ceasefire and “refrain from all actions which contradict the letter and spirit of the agreement”. It says it is concerned on more than one account: by the announcement by President Salva Kiir of the government's intention to increase the number of federal states in the country, by the reluctance of the opposition to commit to the implementation of the security arrangements and by the recent outbreaks of fighting in Unity State. “We recall the urgent necessity for all South Sudanese stakeholders to recommit to the implementation of the agreement. Spoilers on all sides undermining the agreement will be held responsible for the consequences of their actions”, the EU warns.
The EU hails the mediation efforts of the international community, the African Union and African regional organisations, in particular the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD).
With 2.2 million people displaced both inside and outside the country and over four and a half million people who have faced severe food insecurity in the past four months, “the humanitarian situation in the country remains disastrous”, says the EU. It warns that the renewed fighting, if prolonged, would increase the likelihood of famine in the most affected areas. “Delays in the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance cannot be tolerated”, the EU states and it urges all parties to ensure immediate, full and unconditional humanitarian access.
Over the past 18 months, South Sudan's population has “experienced horrific violations and abuses of human rights”, the EU says, stating that “the violence and abuses against women and children are deeply shocking” and must be ended. It restates its willingness to step up its engagement to support the implementation of the agreement and calls on South Sudan to ratify the Cotonou Partnership agreement linking the EU and 78 ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) countries. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)