Guterres commends Khartoum peace deal

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commends the continued regional efforts to facilitate the peace process in South Sudan, his spokesman said.

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commends the continued regional efforts to facilitate the peace process in South Sudan, his spokesman said.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Wednesday that Guterres is encouraged by the Declaration of Agreement signed by the parties in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.

“The Secretary-General notes that this Declaration of Agreement is signed at a time when the security situation in parts of South Sudan continues to deteriorate, marked by  violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of December 2017 (COHA) with killings of civilians and other atrocities,” partly reads the statement.

The Secretary-General, Dujarric said, urges all parties to demonstrate the political leadership required at this critical juncture of the peace process and engage to reach agreement on the outstanding issues of governance and security arrangements.

“Working together with IGAD and the African Union, the United Nations stands ready to support the leadership and people of South Sudan in moving towards a fair, inclusive and implementable agreement,” he said.