By JOSEPH ODUHA
In Summary
- JMEC chairman Festus Mogae underlined the severe humanitarian situation and persistent violence perpetrated by the warring factions as the greatest obstacles to the peace implementation.
- He said the South Sudan war had become a burden to the international community as well as the continent at large.
- He urged the warring factions to use dialogue and the laid down channels in addressing grievances instead of resorting to violence.
An African Union peace mediator has challenged South
Sudanese leaders to use various platforms to reform their fighters to
work for peace.
The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (JMEC) chairman,
Mr Festus Mogae, said in Juba on Tuesday that the unruly soldiers were
further denting the image of the war-torn country.
A former president of Botswana, Mr Mogae was appointed by the
Inter-Governmental Authority and Development (Igad) head of states in
2015 to chair JMEC which is charged with the implementation of the
August 2015 South Sudan peace agreement.
His remark came after multiple reports from the United Nations
on continuous breakdown of the ceasefire agreement by both the
government and rebel fighters.
Mr Mogae underlined the severe humanitarian situation and
persistent violence perpetrated by the warring factions as the greatest
obstacles to the peace implementation.
“Almost daily, we receive reports of violence from around the
country, that seem to remind us of the enormity of our task and the very
fragile nature of peace in the country,” he said.
“In our last meeting, our primary concern was the immediate
restoration of the ceasefire agreement and I am dismayed to report no
evidence of meaningful progress in that regard,” he added.
Mr Mogae revealed that the fighting in Equatoria region was
characterised by gross human rights violations by both the government,
the rebels and other armed groups.
He said the South Sudan war had become a burden to the international community as well as the continent at large.
Earlier on, the East African Community warned that the conflict in the young nation could spark instability in the whole region.
Some countries such as Ethiopia and Sudan have already closed
doors to the South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar after he declared a
fresh war with President Salva Kiir following the July fighting.
Dr Machar was denied entry by both Ethiopian and Sudanese
authorities on Monday and was forced to return to South Africa where he
had been seeking medical treatment.
However, Mr Mogae urged President Kiir to implement his declaration of amnesty to the rebels, including Dr Machar.
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