COMMUNIQUE OF THE 25th OF THE IGAD ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE ANDÂ GOVERNMENT ON THE SITUATION IN SOUTH SUDAN EXTRA-ORDINARY SESSION
Addis Ababa, 13th march 2014
IGAD Head of States and governments (Photo file: IGAD)
March 13, 2014(Addis Ababa) — The IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government held its 25th Extra-Ordinary Summit on 13th March 2014 in Addis Ababa, under the Chairmanship of H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and current Chairperson of the IGAD Assembly to discuss the situation in the Republic of South Sudan.
The Assembly was attended by H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E Omar Hassan Al- Bashir, President of the Republic of the Sudan; H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti; H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit President of the Republic of South Sudan, H. E. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya and H.E. Abdiweli Sheik Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
The Summit was also attended by Amb (Eng.) Mahboub Maalim, Executive Secretary of IGAD; Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; representative of the United Nations; representative of the IGAD Partners Forum (IPF); representative of the People’s Republic of China; representative of the European Union; as well as Representatives of the Troika (the Governments of Norway, UK and the US).
In light of the on-going IGAD-led mediation process in Addis Ababa, the Summit received a progress report from the Chairperson of the IGAD Mediation team, Amb. Seyoum Mesfin.
After consideration of the report in a closed session and extensive deliberations on the overall political and security situation in South Sudan,
The Summit:
1. Recalls the Communiqués of the 23rdand 24th sessions of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government held on 27th December 2013 and 31st January 2014 respectively and the decisions contained in these Communiqués;
2. Welcomes the signing of the Implementation Modalities of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities (COH) by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan (GRSS) and the SPLM/A (In Opposition) in February 2014 in Addis Ababa, as a significant step in the implementation of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism; in this connection commends their commitment to the pursuit of a peaceful political solution to the crisis;
3. Applauds the IGAD Special Envoys Amb. Seyoum Mesfin of Ethiopia, Gen. Lazaro Sumbeiywo of Kenya and Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Moustafa El Dabi of the of shuttle missions and consultations with the Parties and other Stakeholders.
These include meetings with H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit President of the Republic of South Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar, Leader of SPLM/A (In opposition), SPLM Leaders (Former Detainees), other political parties and civil society groups;
4. Commends the efforts of the Republic of Uganda in securing vital installations in South Sudan:
5. Notes with appreciation the strong and wide-ranging support extended to the IGAD-led mediation process from Member States, development partners and the wider international community; and calls on all partners to redouble their efforts to support the robust Monitoring and Verification Mechanism and the deployment of the Protection and Deterrent Force (PDF) as part of the MVM to protect the latter and other infrastructures in South Sudan;
6. Extends appreciation to the IPF, the African Union, The People’s Republic of China, Japan, the Troika (Norway, United Kingdom, and United States of America), the European Union, and the United Nations;
Summit Decisions On South Sudan
The Summit:
7. Urges the Parties to fully comply with and implement the Cessation of Hostilities (COH) Agreement and its Implementation Modalities as well as show their political will and commitment to end the war; and take all necessary measures to encourage the Parties to abide by the Agreements;
8. Implores the Parties to urgently address the humanitarian crisis, provide unfettered humanitarian access and delivery of humanitarian assistance in full collaboration and coordination with local and international humanitarian organizations;
9. Authorizes the prompt deployment of a Protection and Deterrent Force (PDF) from the region with a clear mandate and operational guidelines as part of the IGAD Monitoring and Verification Mechanism in South Sudan and call upon the UN Security Council and the African Union to provide all the necessary support; and further reiterates the call on the parties to ensure the progressive withdrawal of all armed groups and all allied forces invited by either side from the theatre of operations as per the COH Agreement and in line with the Communiqué of the 24th Extraordinary Summit of IGAD Assembly of the Heads of State and Government, held on the 31st January 2014;
10. Reaffirms the need for an inclusive political dialogue and further calls on the parties to include in the negotiations all South Sudanese stakeholders particularly SPLM Leaders (Former Detainees), other political parties and representatives of CSOs as deemed necessary by the Mediation Process;
11. Stresses the need to recognize the Former Detainees as positive contributors to the peace process
12. Reminds the Parties to negotiate in good-faith guided by the spirit of give and take, tolerance and accommodation and reject the politics of zero-sum-game;
13. Agrees that all IGAD Member States may participate as observers at the on-going negotiations, and in the MVM;
14. Appreciates the international community for its continued political, diplomatic, humanitarian and financial support to the on- going efforts; appeals for enhanced and sustained support;
15. Condemns all acts driven by tribalism and ideological bankruptcy; and calls for an immediate stop to the targeting of non- combatants including civilians and prisoners of war as these acts amount to War Crimes and are recognized as such by IGAD;
16. Denounces and condemns all human rights violations committed in South Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict in December 2013;
17. Welcomes the African Union (AU) establishment of the Commission of Inquiry headed by H.E Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to investigate alleged human rights violations in order to mark the beginning of a genuine process of accountability, reconciliation, and healing in South Sudan in line with the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) Communiqué of 30th December 2013 in Banjul;
18. Urges the Parties to cooperate with the AU to expeditiously operationalise the Commission of Inquiry; and Calls on the international community to fully support the African Union initiative;
19. Reiterates IGAD’s commitment to facilitating a quick and lasting resolution of the South Sudan crisis; and agrees to remain seized of the matter;
On Somalia
20. Notes with appreciation the progress made by Somali National Army and AMISOM the in the fight against Al Shabaab in Somalia; Strongly condemns the Killing of civilians in Somalia by Al Shabaab and other Militias; and Calls on the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to coordinate their ensure operational efficiency:
21. Reminds key players in Somalia and requests IGAD Member State and the international community to assist the Federal Government of Somalia in its efforts to establish administrative units in liberated areas;
22. Urges IGAD Member States and the international community to support the speedy establishment and strengthening of a professional Somali national army, and the provision of humanitarian services to communities in the liberated areas;
On IGAD Secretariat
23. Endorsed the IGAD budget for 2014 by as approved by the Council;
Issued on the 13 March 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
