The IGAD Council of Ministers called for an extraordinary session to consider the punitive measures that should be taken against violators of the cessation of hostilities agreement in South Sudan.

The Chairperson of the IGAD Council of ministers said in a press release this evening that CTSAMM and JMEC have submitted reports concerning the repeated and serious violations of cessation of hostilities agreement, which calls for urgent and appropriate action against the perpetrators. 

“The Council of Ministers of IGAD recalls the Communique of its 61st Extraordinary Session held in Addis Ababa on 26 March 2018, whereby it decided to take the necessary measures against violators of the Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians, and Humanitarian Access Agreement (COHA) signed on 21 December 2017, to halt the conflict in South Sudan,” partly reads the press release extended to Radio Tamazuj.

The Council further said it will consider the report of the chairperson on the shuttle diplomacy undertaken to the parties in South Sudan in accordance with its Communique of 26 March 2018, as well as the report of the IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan. the African regional bloc has not announced the date for its extraordinary meeting. 

The chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers Workneh Gebeyehu said last week that the peace monitoring bodies in South Sudan have identified those that have violated the signed ceasefire agreement. He said his council was ready to submit a proposal to the summit to approve the actions on targeted sanctions.