South Sudan parties sign agreement for implementation of cessation of hostilities

The IGAD Special Envoys for South Sudan welcomed the agreement signed by the South Sudanese government and the SPLM/A (In Opposition) of the implementation matrix and a detailed timetable to implement the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in South Sudan, said IGAD in a statement on Sunday.

The agreement of the timetable is a vital step to bring the war in South Sudan to an end, said the statement.

The IGAD Special Envoys called on the parties to swiftly and earnestly take all measures to implement the agreed timetable, without delay, said the statement.

Upon the request of the warring parties, the South Sudanese government and the SPLM/A (In Opposition), to be granted additional time to conduct consultations with their respective constituencies on the agreed agenda of the 28th Extra-Ordinary Summit of the IGAD Heads of State and Government, the Assembly of IGAD Heads of State and Government accepts the need for a further period of 15 days to be accorded to the Parties to complete consultations on these matters, according to a statement by IGAD last Saturday.

The parties committed to an unconditional, complete and immediate end to all hostilities, and to bring the war to an end, as of the date of this resolution, said the statement earlier.

They further committed to the immediate cessation of the recruitment and mobilization of civilians, it added.

"Any violation of the cessation of the hostilities by any party will invite collective action by the IGAD region against those responsible for such violations, which will include, but are not limited to: the enactment of asset freezes; the enactment of travel bans within the region denial of the supply of arms and ammunition, and any other material that could be used in war."

"Further, the IGAD region shall, without further reference to the warring parties, take the necessary measures to directly intervene in South Sudan to protect life and restore peace and stability. Should it be necessary to implement these measures, the IGAD region calls on the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union, the Security Council of the United Nations, and the entire international community, to render all possible assistance in the implementation of these measures," said the statement. Enditem