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South Sudan peace monitors decry surge in violence, human rights abuses

Xinhua, October 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Sudan peace monitors on Thursday decried escalation of violence and human rights violations in the world's youngest nation.

The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) which is overseeing the implementation of the August 2015 peace deal said such violations of the cease-fire deal are intolerable.

"We are deeply concerned by the escalation of violence and egregious violations of human rights around the country since July. Such violations of the ceasefire are unacceptable," JMEC chairman Festus Mogae said in a statement issued in Juba.

Mogae who is the former president of Botswana has thus convened the next JMEC Plenary meeting which will take place on October 19.

"I shall be calling upon all Parties to the Agreement to return to the table and show the leadership that the people of this country deserve," he said.

JMEC will present its report to the board members, including representatives of the Transitional Government of National Unity, South Sudanese Stakeholders, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states, international partners and friends of South Sudan.

On the agenda will be the report on violations of the cease-fire; full inclusivity and representation within the political process; the humanitarian situation; and the deployment of the Regional Protection Force.

"The peace process has hit its first major test but we will not allow it to be derailed. The solution to the conflict in South Sudan can only be found in dialogue and the relentless pursuit of peaceful, inclusive, representative governance," Mogae assured.

The South Sudan peace agreement signed in August 2015 between the troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar's rebel force Sudan People's Liberation Army-in opposition (SPLA-IO) remains fragile after the latter fled the capital in the wake of intense fighting that left about 300 people killed and fresh displacements of thousands into neighboring countries of Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan and Kenya. Endit