The head of the UN mission in South Sudan, David Shearer, asked the international community to continue compiling reports on serious human rights violations against civilians and make every effort to end the cycle of impunity in the country.

Speaking at a meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on South Sudan in Addis Ababa on Friday, Shearer said the African Union holds an important role with the establishment of its Hybrid Court as well as providing support to national authorities to establish credible and independent national judicial mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable.

“Unsurprisingly in this insecure environment, the political process has stalled. President Kiir’s statements supporting a National Dialogue are welcome and present an opportunity. Yet despite the many statements movement on the Dialogue has been slow. Nevertheless there has been some progress,” said Shearer.

The UNMISS chief stressed that a circuit breaker is desperately needed in South Sudan, saying new armed groups and actors are emerging and the society is deeply divided. The UN official noted that the National Dialogue may offer an opportunity, but it cannot function in the midst of war.

“It is, therefore, imperative that we collectively call for an immediate stop to hostilities. To help create political will for the parties to cease hostilities and build peace, the international community must speak with one voice; the African Union Peace and Security Council, the United Nations Security Council and IGAD must be united in dealing with the belligerent parties in South Sudan,” he said.

Shearer affirmed the United Nations’ readiness to work hand in hand with the African Union and IGAD to pull South Sudan back from the abyss and from a growing famine.

 He emphasized the need to work collectively on how to achieve an immediate cessation of hostilities and restore the credibility of the peace process by ensuring the representation and consultation of all South Sudanese stakeholders in the proposed National Dialogue.

Shearer urged the AU Peace and Security Council and the leaders of IGAD to support the call for unrestricted humanitarian access and establishment of the Hybrid Court.

Photo: UNMISS chief David Shearer speaks to journalists at a press conference in Juba on Wednesday, 22 February, 2017 (Radio Tamazuj).