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IGAD mediators deplore escalation of fighting in South Sudan

Xinhua, May 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Mediators of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have profoundly deplored the escalation of fighting in South Sudan.

The mediators of the East African bloc urged the warring parties to immediately cease all hostilities, said a statement from the Office of IGAD Special Envoys for South Sudan on Friday.

IGAD has been mediating the peace process of South Sudan towards peaceful resolution of the crisis erupted in mid-December 2013 in the world newest nation.

Through the IGAD-led mediation, the warring parties in South Sudan had signed cessation of hostilities agreement (COHA) though they breached it.

According to reports filed by the IGAD Monitoring and Verification Team-MVT, UN agencies and humanitarian organizations on ground, government forces have been conducting full-scale military offensive against opposition forces in Rubkona, Mayom, Guit, Koch and Mayendit counties in Unity State since 27 April 2015, said the statement.

It is also increasingly clear that the offensive is being expanded into Jonglei and Upper Nile States.

At this critical moment, IGAD mediators reminded the warring parties of their obligation to honor the COHA and Implementation Matrix that they signed on Jan. 23, 2014 and November 2014 respectively, noted the statement.

The consequences of these offensives on the humanitarian dimension are emerging, it said, IGAD mediators are extremely dismayed at the credible reports reaching the MVM of acts of violence targeting civilians, grave human rights abuses and destruction of villages.

In addition, over 100,000 people are displaced in the fighting areas while humanitarian organizations and UN agencies are being forced to evacuate their staff due to the prevailing insecurity, depriving populations in desperate need of emergency food assistance, according to the statement.

The mediators are also deeply disturbed by the denial of freedom of movement by Government forces to the IGAD-MVT based in Bentiu following the start of the military offensive in Unity State.

It further said the full-scale military offensive taking place in Unity State, and the denial of freedom of movement constitute clear and significant violation of the COH Agreement.

The continued war rhetoric by the warring parties also demonstrates the fact that they are still pursuing their objectives thorough military means, it said.

"Once more, the mediators would like to underline that there is no military solution to the ongoing crisis in South Sudan,' said the statement.

They urged the warring parties to immediately stop the violence and work towards achieving a negotiated political settlement under the new IGAD-Plus approach. Endi