Member countries of the East African regional body IGAD have stated that if the warring parties in South Sudan do not maintain the peace, the nations will collectively interfere in South Sudan. IGAD is demanding a complete, immediate and unconditional end to all hostilities.
“Any violation of the cessation of the hostilities by any party will invite the following collective action by the IGAD region against those responsible for such violations, which will include, but are not limited to: the enactment of asset freezes, the enactment of travel bans within the region, denial of the supply of arms and ammunition, and any other material that could be used in war,” read the statement presented at the IGAD summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Friday.
The leaders of the South Sudanese government, President Salva Kiir and Former Vice President Riek Machar, have maintained their willingness to achieve peace since the conflict broke out in late December, but repeatedly the two leaders have been unable to find common ground, and repeatedly the ceasefire agreements between the two warring parties have been broken.
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While EGAD members were meeting, a protest letter was send to the organization’s chief negotiator by South Sudanese Rebel Chief Negotiator, General Taban Deng Gai, accusing the government of launching another set of attacks in Unity State.
IGAD also called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and African Union Peace and Security Council to assist it in any measures it found necessary.
The IGAD statement also endorsed a request by the two warring parties that they be granted additional time for consultations. IGAD agreed to permit 15 days to complete the consultations, and demanded immediate and total cessation of all war in South Sudan.
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IGAD also stated that the two groups should commit to bringing the war in South Sudan to an end and immediately cease recruiting civilians into the fight.
By Dan Jackson
Photo: M Minassie/EyeRadio