The Peace and Security Council of the African Union met to consider South Sudan on Tuesday last week. The Council was briefed on the situation and the status of the peace process in that country by the Chair of the IGAD Mediation Team and heard statements by the representatives of South Sudan and Ethiopia, the Chair of IGAD.
In a communiqué, the Council expressed its deep concern at the situation in South Sudan, and strongly condemned all acts of violence and violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.
It, once again, appealed to the South Sudanese Parties to live-up to their commitments under the Agreement of Cessation of Hostilities and display the required political will and sense of responsibility. Recalling its own earlier pronouncements on the issue of sanctions, it noted the adoption, on 3 March 2015, of resolution 2206 by the United Nations Security Council.
It reiterated its appreciation to Prime Minister Hailemariam and other leaders of the region, for their commitment and tireless efforts as well as to the IGAD Mediation Team, and to the UN and other international partners for their continued support.
Reiterating its support to UNMISS and to the IGAD Monitoring Mechanism, demanding, once again, that the Parties fully cooperate with them, the Council looked forward to the next steps envisaged by IGAD for the resumption of the negotiations. It also welcomed the consultations regarding the composition of the AU High-Level ad hoc Committee to strengthen Africa’s support to the IGAD mediation.
It urged the Committee, of Algeria, Chad, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa, to meet as early as possible to determine its work plan in support of IGAD, and requested the African Union Commission to extend all the necessary support to the ad hoc Committee, to enable the AU to fully play its role in the search for a lasting solution to the conflict in South Sudan.