IGAD’s Executive Secretary calls for restraint and dialogue in South Sudan due to escalating tensions and violence in Nasir County. He emphasizes the importance of the peace agreement and the need for engaging with local authorities to restore calm. A high-level delegation will assess the situation to facilitate peace and protect civilians.
Workneh Gebeyehu, the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), has urged for restraint and dialogue to alleviate rising tensions in South Sudan. He voiced “deep concern” regarding the escalating violence and armed confrontations in Nasir County, emphasizing that these occurrences jeopardize the achievements made through the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Gebeyehu encouraged all involved parties to exercise maximum restraint and recommit to the R-ARCSS, highlighting dialogue and reconciliation as essential for sustaining peace and protecting civilians. In light of the situation, IGAD, an eight-member East African bloc, plans to send a high-level delegation to assess conditions and engage with the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity regarding measures to restore peace.
He reiterated IGAD’s unwavering dedication to facilitating the full implementation of the peace agreement. Recent clashes in mid-February between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and armed civilian groups near the Ethiopian border have resulted in over 20 fatalities and numerous injuries, exacerbated by the government’s new military deployment plans.
To address these rising tensions, IGAD’s delegation aims to secure calm and foster the peace dialogue necessary for long-term stability in the region.
In summary, IGAD’s executive secretary has called for immediate restraint and dialogue in South Sudan due to escalating violence in Nasir County. The situation threatens the progress made under the peace agreement, prompting IGAD to send a high-level delegation to engage with the local government. Ensuring civilian protection alongside the peace process is crucial for restoring stability in the region.
Original Source: ommcomnews.com
