2nd LD Writethru: UN Security Council greatly alarmed by renewed ethnic violence in S.Sudan

The United Nations (UN) Security Council on Friday "expressed deep alarm over the escalation of ethnic violence in South Sudan," and "strongly condemned all instances of attacks against civilians, ethnically targeted killings, hate speech, and incitements to violence."

This was contained in a press statement issued by the 15-nation UN body after it was briefed by the special representative of the UN secretary-general, Ellen Loj, the UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide, Adama Dieng, and the chair of the South Sudan sanctions committee on the current situation in the world's youngest country.

"The members of the Security Council expressed deep alarm over the escalation of ethnic violence in South Sudan reportedly carried out by the SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army), the SPLA in Opposition, as well as militias, and unidentified armed groups," the statement said.

Dieng concluded a three-day trip to South Sudan earlier this week. He warned that the country risked spiraling into genocide if nothing was done to calm the situation.

Ambassador Augostino Njoroge, deputy chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), on Friday decried the flare-up of armed clashes, ethnic and political tensions, and lawlessness in parts of the war-torn country. He said that an increase in armed groups had led to a rise in killings and property damage.

The Security Council "called on the government of South Sudan to immediately address increasing hate speech and ethnic violence, and to promote reconciliation among its people, including through a process of justice and accountability," said the statement.

"The members of the Security Council underscored that the only way forward in South Sudan is through a genuine and inclusive political process, based on the framework provided by the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan which allows for all voices to participate in shaping the future of South Sudan," the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council also underscored that all parties must commit themselves to peace and take meaningful steps to end violence and ceasefire violations," it said.

The council members called upon the parties to immediately agree on the implementation of an effective cessation of hostilities in order to avoid an escalation of the conflict in the upcoming dry season and reiterated that there is no military solution to the conflict, the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council signaled their readiness to consider taking additional measures in order to prevent a further escalation of violence and conflict, including potential sanctions that may be appropriate to respond to the situation," the statement said.

South Sudan has been shattered by civil war which broke out in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his sacked deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup. Machar denied the accusation but then mobilized a rebel force.

Tens of thousands have been killed, with over 2 million displaced and another 4.6 million left severely food insecure since then.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 between rival leaders under UN pressure led to the establishment of a transitional unity government in April, but was devastated by renewed fighting that erupted in early July. The JMEC is overseeing the implementation of the August 2015 peace deal. Endi