Ban urges S.Sudan leaders not to ‘betray us’ over peace
“I sincerely count on your leadership”, Ban said shortly after President Salva Kiir addressed the high-level meeting at the United Nations by video link. “The motive behind these attacks is to dishonour the agreement in spite of our commitment as the government at all levels to implementing the peace despite our reservations, yet the rebels are carrying out attacks on the position of our forces in a clear violation of the permanent ceasefire agreement, yet nobody talks about it from the region and among the worldwide community”, he added.
Ban welcomed Kiir’s “strong commitment” to the agreement in his address to the meeting.
Citing a new window of opportunity for peace in South Sudan, the secretary-general said that it is “a pivotal moment” in the history of the world’s youngest country. The hostilities subsequently turned into a full-fledged conflict, resulting in reported atrocities and possible war crimes.
“The conflict that broke out in December 2013 dashed the aspirations of the South Sudanese people for a brighter future”, he said. It shattered the optimism of the global community. “Thousands of lives have been lost in a senseless conflict”, said Ban and added. Fighting sides in South Sudan agreed in August to end the fight and form a Transitional Government of National Unity.
South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar was also in the room, attending the gathering on the sidelines of the General Assembly in person.
The formation of the court would provide an “African solution” to the allegations, the AU said, as South Sudan does not recognize the global Criminal Court at The Hague, in the Netherlands.
“Horrific crimes have been committed against civilians in this war”.
“It is, therefore, unreasonable for the SPLM factions only to sign the agreement without the other 18 registered political parties” in South Sudan, the president said.
“South Sudan stands at a crossroads”.
The South Sudan leader urged the parties to make a break through at the military workshop in Addis Ababa on security arrangements and kick off with the implementation. “I call on the global community to remain engaged in every step of the implementation of the agreement”.
A Ugandan military spokesman says Ugandan troops will stay in South Sudan until the government of President Salva Kiir asks them to withdraw, contradicting a recent peace accord calling for them to leave.
“When I made a decision to join the liberation struggle three decades ago, I did not expect to liberate my people in order to take them back to war amongst themselves”, he stated.
Speaking via videoconference to a high-level United Nations meeting on his country, Kiir on Tuesday asserted that he will respect the peace deal, saying, “I know there are people who doubt my commitment to honor the agreement….”
But the United Nations deputy secretary general said one of the most hard situation in South Sudan is lack of trust among its leaders.