May 22nd 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – The Council of Ministers of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development(IGAD) said it will meet in the near future to decide on punitive measures against South Sudanese parties deemed to violate the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) agreement signed in December last year.
The Nyamilepedia reported early this month that the IGAD said it would convene meeting after its delegation disagreed with the former South Sudan’s firs vice president, Dr. Riek Machar, after informing him about the plan by the regional body that he would be relocated to Djibouti from his South African’s cell, a decision Machar and the SPLM-IO said is nothing other than a change of prison.
“Council of Ministers of IGAD recalls the Communique of its 61st Extraordinary Session held in Addis Ababa on 26 March 2018, whereby it decided to take the necessary measures against violators of the Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians, and Humanitarian Access Agreement (COHA) signed on 21 December 2017, to halt the conflict in South Sudan” the statement read in part.
The regional body said that the CTSAMM and JMEC have submitted reports concerning the repeated and serious violations of cessation of hostilities agreement, which calls for urgent and appropriate action against the perpetrators.
“In this regard, CTSAMM and JMEC have submitted reports concerning the repeated and serious violations of COHA, which calls for urgent and appropriate action against the perpetrators,” it said.
The statement pointed out that for the aim of punishing those who are violating and sabotaging South Sudan peace process, the Council calls for urgent meeting on South Sudan.
“Therefore, the Chairperson of the Council has decided to convene an extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers to consider the punitive measures that should be taken against violators of the COHA. Furthermore, the Council will consider two more items namely:-the Report of the Chairperson on the shuttle diplomacy undertaken to the Parties in South Sudan in accordance with its Communique of 26 March 2018, as well as the Report of the IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan,” the statement further said.
