By Prudence Arobani
New York – UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has reiterated UN concern at the prevailing security and humanitarian situation in South Sudan, highlighting the untold sufferings inflicted on the civilian population.
Guterres, on the margins of the London Conference on Somalia, discussed the situation in South Sudan with a number of international stakeholders, a statement by his Spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, noted.
Dujarric stated that the UN chief met with the Chairperson of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and the Chairperson of AU Commission, Moussa Mahamat.
He noted that in the course of the consultation, Guterres underlined the imperative of renewed regional and international efforts to bring to an end the unfolding tragedy in South Sudan, particularly through the immediate cessation of hostilities.
Guterres also called for unfettered humanitarian access to the millions of people in need of assistance, freedom of movement for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
The UN scribe further called for the promotion of credible and truly inclusive process that would involve all the opposition forces in line with the principles enshrined in the August 2015 Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.
He said he was encouraged by the commitment of all his interlocutors to further enhance their efforts toward ending the violence tearing South Sudan apart, bearing also in mind the need to prevent further negative repercussions on regional security and stability.
“The UN looks forward to working closely with the IGAD and the AU in the period ahead to identify practical steps that would help arrest the current downward trend towards greater fragmentation of South Sudan.
“The body also looks forward to arresting escalated violence and deepening hardship and sustainably put the country back on the track of peace and reconciliation,” Guterres added.