Ambassadors of the group of nations referred to as the ‘troika’ – the United States, United Kingdom and Norway – as well as four other European nations, have demanded that South Sudanese leaders take “immediate, proactive steps” to prevent more atrocities.
A press statement today by the US, UK, Denmark, Norway, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the EU Delegation in South Sudan referred to the killings this week in Bentiu, Bor, and elsewhere.
The delegations “condemn these atrocities in the strongest terms,” reads the statement.
“Leaders of both sides in South Sudan’s conflict must recognize that targeting civilians and UN personnel, whether by formal military units or informal ‘youth militias,’ is completely unacceptable and constitutes flagrant violations of the Cessation of Hostilities agreement to which both the government and rebels have signed,” it adds.
“The Heads of Mission insist that both sides take immediate, proactive steps to prevent such violent acts. Those responsible for attacks against civilians, and otherwise violating the Cessation of Hostilities agreement, can be held accountable. We look to the IGAD-led Monitoring and Verification Mechanism to document such violations,” the statement says.
The statement further referred to the AU Commission of Inquiry, which it urged to investigate allegations of atrocities leveled against both sides.
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