June 26th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has urged South Sudan’s parties to expedite the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement within the extended 6-month period.
In May, South Sudan government and opposition groups agreed in Addis Ababa to extend the pre-transitional period and adjourn the formation of the government to November.
The extension came as opposition groups accused the government of failing to pay money for the implementation of the agreement.
As delegates urged the belligerents to use the time afforded by the extended period in which to form a transitional Government to resolve thorny outstanding issues, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in South Sudan and head if UNMISS, David Shearer said the decline of violence has let to several lives spared.
“The drop in political violence […] has meant hundreds, if not thousands, of people are alive who would not otherwise be,” he said.
Shearer further noted that the ceasefire is largely holding across the country adding that many displaced families are returning home, humanitarian partners seeing improved access and — for the first time in years — the relative calm will allow some households to resume the cultivation of food crops.
“The desire for peace is palpable and there is fierce aversion to any renewal of fighting,” he said warning that the latest food security analysis remains dire with 7 million people facing crisis or worse.
