Uphold peace pact, Uhuru tells South Sudan

By Kazungu Chai

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia: President Uhuru Kenyatta has appealed to warring parties in the South Sudan crisis to comply with the peace agreements they signed to accelerate resolution of the conflict.

 He said the conflicting parties should put the interests of the suffering population first and uphold the Cessation of Hostilities (COH) and the Status of Detainees agreements signed on January 23 to alleviate the situation.

“Above all, it is important to desist from all actions that may lead to violation of human rights, abuses and crimes against all provisions of international law,” the President said.

 President Kenyatta was addressing the 24th Extra-ordinary Summit of IGAD Heads of State and Government yesterday.  The meeting was held on the sidelines of the ongoing 22nd Ordinary Session of the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He expressed concern that since the signing of the two agreements, there have been accusations and counter-accusations on non-compliance.

The Cessation of Hostilities Agreement provides for cessation of all military actions that may undermine the process, standing down of forces, protection of civilians, opening of humanitarian access, cessation of propaganda through media as well as formation of a Monitoring and Verification Mechanism.

On the other hand, the Agreement on the Status of Detainees calls for an expedited process in the release of detainees whose contribution in the ownership of the peace process is deemed important.

Uhuru said the conclusion of the two agreements paved the way for the next phase of negotiations on comprehensive resolution of all outstanding political issues. “In this regard, therefore, I appeal to the conflicting parties to commit themselves to this stage of negotiations with a view to realising national healing and reconciliation in the Republic of South Sudan,” President Kenyatta said.

He assured of Kenya’s commitment to continue working together with all partners and stakeholders to the South Sudan peace process.

 The Chairman of the IGAD Special Team on South Sudan Seyoum Mesfin recommended the full implementation of the signed agreements by the parties involved in the conflict.

Ambassador Mesfin said the humanitarian crisis, especially the fate of internally displaced persons (IDPs), must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

He commended the South Sudan Government for releasing the seven detainees and called for the setting free of the remaining four.

Mesfin said human rights violation must be investigated in South Sudan and a monitoring mechanism put in place. He called for the immediate withdrawal of armed groups from both sides, saying IGAD special envoys should also be instruct on the specifics of the peace talks that begin on February 7. 

He also urged the special envoys to engage women, youth, political parties and business people in South Sudan in their search for peace.

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Sudan’s President Omar El Bashir and his Somalia counterpart, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, United Nations special envoys, foreign ministers from IGAD member states and representatives of the parties to the South Sudan conflict, attended the meeting.