March 21st, 2018(Nyamilepedia) —— Recalling its statement of 25th January 2018 titled “Statement on The Reports of Violations of Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in the Republic of South Sudan” the IGAD Council of Ministers (CoM) regrets that South Sudan’s warring parties comprising of South Sudan government and SPLM/A(IO) have continued to violate the cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA), signed on December 21st, 2017.
The Council recalls its demand on the Parties to provide information of the responsible individual(s) or groups(s) to CTSAMM within one month from the issuance of the 25th January, 2018 Statement.
According to a statement extended to Nyamilepedia the council notes with regrets that no party has submitted its report to CTSAMM as of the issuance of this Statement.
“The council is dismayed to learn that in some parts of the Country the violations of the Agreement continued with impunity.” Said Abdullahi Busuri, the Program Manager
of Information and Documentation Sectiion of IGAD Council.
The regional bloc warns that failure to comply with the duties as agreed to by the parties in the recent agreements will be met with punitive measures.
“The failure to comply with the duty to investigate and report the accountability measures taken against perpetrators of violations of the COHA can be considered as non-compliance to Article 13 of the COHA” IGAD Council warns.
The Council of Ministers calls on all the Parties to the conflict to fully observe their obligation under the COHA.
Despite years of negotiations and repeated warning after warning, IGAD has delivered no punitive measures so far.
The regional bloc, which has constantly been accused for taking sides or pursuing different interests in South Sudan conflict, has recently postponed the peace talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, despite continuation of violence in South Sudan.
Juba has recently expressed concerns that Ethiopia is not suitable for peace talks any more as it heads into a possible political crisis.
Critics, however, warn that IGAD could be tactically delaying the peace process to give Salva Kiir government a chance during this dry season to win the war militarily.
