A leading civil society organization in South Sudan has urged the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to take action and stop the continuing spread of fighting instead of issuing statements.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj today, Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said the joint position of the United Nations and the regional partners should be action-oriented instead of issuing statements that cannot be translated into reality on the ground.

“Offering full support for inclusive implementation of the peace agreement is paramount. The AU, the IGAD and the UN should move away from the culture of statements to the culture of acting such as ECOWAS,” said Yakani.

The leading civil society activist commended the great role played by the international community and Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC). He urged them to encourage the AU High Representative for South Sudan to undertake active shuttle diplomacy towards ensuring the inclusivity of the National Dialogue and the peace implementation.

Yakani called on the warring parties to give peace a better chance and respect regional and continental mechanisms.

The United Nations and its regional partners had issued a joint statement in Addis Ababa in which they expressed deep concerns over the continuing spread of fighting, and risk of inter-communal violence escalating into mass atrocities, besides the dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

File photo: Edmund Yakani/ Radio Tamazuj