US Congressmen including senators have asked the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, to take extraordinary steps to convene a high-level meeting in order to avert genocide in South Sudan.

In a joint letter  dated February 24, the lawmakers said: “We ask that you take the extraordinary step of convening a high-level meeting of regional leaders and stakeholders with the goal of averting genocide and mass atrocities in the near term and agreeing to a diplomatic road map leading to a lasting peace.”

 The legislators stressed that the international community needs to work together to find a political solution to prevent genocide and mass atrocities being committed in South Sudan.

 The lawmakers pointed out that they were aware of challenges in finding a solution, but warned that failure to finding a solution would result in suffering of innocent South Sudanese.

“Half of South Sudan’s population is in need of humanitarian aid and the number is likely to grow. People continue to be raped and murdered in their own homes. The international community must act as quickly as possible,” said the lawmakers.

They expressed concern about horrific violence against civilians and potential genocide occurring in the country if urgent political intervention is not made.

“We write with concern about one such challenge: ongoing reports of horrific violence against civilians and potential genocide in South Sudan, and the need to arrive at a sustainable political settlement to end the civil war in that country, ”partly reads the letter.

The joint letter was signed by nine senators and three representatives.

Photo:  Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat/UN