PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Ethiopia: IGAD Summit warns South Sudan rivals over continued ceasefire violation
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - South Sudanese rebels have been responsible for most of the ceasefire violations since an agreement was signed to end fighting in their country, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said Monday.
Hailemariam said the "most flagrant" violation of the ceasefire agreement was being committed by the rebel forces in parts of South Sudan, where an eight-month-long crisis is blamed for quickening a humanitarian disaster and famine.
However, the South Sudanese government, which recently warned it would advance on rebel strongholds should a peace agreement fail to push through, was also cited for violating the ceasefire agreement signed on 23 January to end killings.
An unknown number of people have been killed in South Sudan since 15 December 2013 when a crisis erupted in the three-year old state, forcing the African Union to form a commission of inquiry into the killings and to recommend the steps to be taken.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister said even though the two warring sides have repeatedly vowed their commitment to end the crisis through peaceful means, their actions on the ground still show they were far from reaching any meaningful commitment.
"Even though the parties are committed to a peaceful settlement, everything in their behaviour shows otherwise," Hailemariam said. "We have to put our action where the mouth is and show the parties that there would be consequences to each action."
An official helping with the monitoring of the South Sudanese agreement died after the rebels rounded up the group if six and took them into detention.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has condemned the detention of the team of six Intergovermental Authority on Development (IGAD) ceasefire monitors and three aircrew in Buoth, 35 km South West of Bentiu in Unity State on Saturday.
Forces allied to Sudan People's Liberation Army In Opposition detained the group. The Sudan People's Liberation Army liason officer, who was part of the team, died during the detention period due to heart attack.
IGAD Chief Mediator, Seyoum Mesfin, said Sunday, there would be sanctions against the rebels for the violation of the ceasefire agreement and the detention of the officials.
The regional body has eight teams tasked with the verification of compliance with the previous agreements on the need to stop the fighting in South Sudan.
UN officials said efforts were currently underway by the UN Mission to recover the IGAD-contracted aircraft that flew the monitors to Bouth.
"The Mission reiterates its full support for the IGAD mediation and the monitoring and verification mechanism, as agreed to by both parties on 23 January 2014, and calls for the full cooperation of all parties in finding a peaceful and durable solution to the current crisis," UNMISS said in a statement Monday.
-0- PANA AO/AR 25Aug2014
Hailemariam said the "most flagrant" violation of the ceasefire agreement was being committed by the rebel forces in parts of South Sudan, where an eight-month-long crisis is blamed for quickening a humanitarian disaster and famine.
However, the South Sudanese government, which recently warned it would advance on rebel strongholds should a peace agreement fail to push through, was also cited for violating the ceasefire agreement signed on 23 January to end killings.
An unknown number of people have been killed in South Sudan since 15 December 2013 when a crisis erupted in the three-year old state, forcing the African Union to form a commission of inquiry into the killings and to recommend the steps to be taken.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister said even though the two warring sides have repeatedly vowed their commitment to end the crisis through peaceful means, their actions on the ground still show they were far from reaching any meaningful commitment.
"Even though the parties are committed to a peaceful settlement, everything in their behaviour shows otherwise," Hailemariam said. "We have to put our action where the mouth is and show the parties that there would be consequences to each action."
An official helping with the monitoring of the South Sudanese agreement died after the rebels rounded up the group if six and took them into detention.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has condemned the detention of the team of six Intergovermental Authority on Development (IGAD) ceasefire monitors and three aircrew in Buoth, 35 km South West of Bentiu in Unity State on Saturday.
Forces allied to Sudan People's Liberation Army In Opposition detained the group. The Sudan People's Liberation Army liason officer, who was part of the team, died during the detention period due to heart attack.
IGAD Chief Mediator, Seyoum Mesfin, said Sunday, there would be sanctions against the rebels for the violation of the ceasefire agreement and the detention of the officials.
The regional body has eight teams tasked with the verification of compliance with the previous agreements on the need to stop the fighting in South Sudan.
UN officials said efforts were currently underway by the UN Mission to recover the IGAD-contracted aircraft that flew the monitors to Bouth.
"The Mission reiterates its full support for the IGAD mediation and the monitoring and verification mechanism, as agreed to by both parties on 23 January 2014, and calls for the full cooperation of all parties in finding a peaceful and durable solution to the current crisis," UNMISS said in a statement Monday.
-0- PANA AO/AR 25Aug2014
