Over 60 African civil society organizations have presented a petition to the African Union Heads of State and Government demanding an urgent action to stop atrocities in South Sudan at the African Union summit on Sunday.

In an open letter to African Union seen by Radio Tamazuj, the group stated the people of South Sudan face a political crisis which continues to fuel horrific violence and atrocities committed by armed actors affiliated with both government and opposition forces. The group also called on the African Union to support the national dialogue called for by President Salva Kiir.

Dismas Nkunda, Director of Atrocities Watch Africa, who signed the letter said: "Our brothers and sisters in South Sudan are suffering enormously through a needless war, the fires of which their leaders are actively stoking. If the leaders and citizens of the African Union do not stand up for the people of South Sudan, then no one will".

Meanwhile, Dinah Misindarwezo, Director of the African Women’s Development and Communications Network, pointed out that the war in South Sudan does not stop at its borders, saying it affects the economies and politics of its neighbors and it affects the status of women across the entire continent, where women and girls disproportionately bear the brunt of suffering from armed conflicts.

For his part, Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Juba-based Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said the African solidarity will encourage South Sudan leaders to hold dialogue with citizens.

 “We hope this display of solidarity from across the continent will encourage our leaders to talk to us and help us talk to each other about what we want for our country. But after years of fighting and the mistrust it has sown,” said Yakani.

“We need the African Union to steward this process so our people can fully trust in it. We need to know that the urgent situation on the ground will be matched by urgent action,” he added.

File photo: A child in Leer in 2014 (Jerome Tubiana)