UN official stresses political solution to South Sudan conflict

A special representative of the UN chief in South Sudan on Tuesday stressed the need for political solution amid intensifying conflict in the African country.

David Shearer, Special Representative of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in South Sudan, said while briefing the Security Council that "the political process is not dead, but it requires significant resuscitation."

Shearer that since July last year, the security, economic and humanitarian situation in South Sudan "has worsened markedly and that virtually no part of the country is immune from conflict."

In the face of the recent escalation, Shearer said the UN Mission has increased the robustness of its protection activities, with more patrols to the most conflict-affected areas.

To create political will for the parties to end hostilities and build peace, Shearer stressed the need for the international community to "speak with one voice."

Several ceasefire agreements have been reached between the government and the opposition forces since a civil war broke out in late 2013 in South Sudan with hundreds of thousands of people being killed. The UN has deployed peacekeeping forces in the country to maintain peace in the conflicting area. Endit