Ambassador Harold Adlai Agyeman, Ghana’s Representative to the United Nations, also speaking on behalf of Gabon and Mozambique, voiced grave concern over insecurity in South Sudan and condemned attacks in the Upper Nile State.
Voicing further concern over violence in Leer County between armed groups, he called on the Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism to ensure accountability. Detailing further violence in Warrap State and the southern Abyei Administrative Area, he called on all parties to end hostilities and refrain from harming civilians.
“We implore all South Sudanese actors to remain committed to the Revitalized Agreement” he said, also calling on non-signatories to refrain from hampering the Agreement’s implementation.
Addressing the humanitarian situation, he said that almost 76 per cent of South Sudan’s population requires humanitarian assistance and its 2023 humanitarian response plan is only 48 per cent funded. International donors must honour their pledges as support is still required for the country’s economy, food security and infrastructure.
Furthermore, the bloc call on all parties to conflict in Sudan, Jonglei and Warrap and Upper Nile States to allow for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, he said, condemning attacks against humanitarian workers and looting of aid. Perpetrators must be held accountable.
Welcoming the presidential decree to reconstitute South Sudan’s National Constitutional Review Commission, National Elections Commission and the Political Parties’ Council, he called on all parties to the Revitalized Peace Agreement to resolve remaining issues and for Juba to ensure institutional readiness of the elections institutions.
Ambassador Harold Adlai Agyeman noted that additional funding is required to implement the 12 December agreement on election conduct. Turning to the security situation, he welcomed the deployment of 750 Necessary Unified Forces troops to Malakal as well as future deployments in other regions. His group of countries supports cooperation between all stakeholders to ensure stability in South Sudan and the region.