Bintou Keita, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations for Peacekeeping Operations, said the ongoing peace process in South Sudan must be inclusive.
Keita told the UN Security Council on Thursday South Sudan conflict would only be achieved by addressing its root causes and ensuring women, youth and other sectors contribute to peace efforts.
She pointed out that engagement by the regional leaders and face to face meetings between President Kiir and Riek Machar are positive developments which must be supported and capitalized upon.
Keita said these “positive developments” must be supported, adding “however, peace in South Sudan will not be achieved or sustained merely on the basis of a bilateral deal between the two leaders”.
Keita reported on various security incidents in June so far, including deadly attacks on villages, adding the continued fighting has a direct impact on the humanitarian situation and people’s access to food.
She noted that security situation on the ground in South Sudan remains a serious concern with parties to the conflict in consistent breach of the cessation of hostilities agreement that they themselves pledged to honour.
“In the context of this fighting, UNMISS has documented gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, particularly in central and southern Unity,” she said.
Akuei Bona Malwal, South Sudan’s Ambassador to the UN, urged the international community to support IGAD’s efforts.
“We would like to appeal to this Council and to other international actors and entities concerned with the situation in South Sudan to give the IGAD peace process that is currently and earnestly underway in Khartoum,” he said.