Secretary-General, Welcoming Cessation of Hostilities in South Sudan,

 

Calls for Accord’s Immediate Implementation

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the agreement on cessation of hostilities signed today in Addis Ababa by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in opposition.  He calls on the parties to immediately implement this agreement.  The Secretary-General congratulates the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on the successful mediation of this agreement and underscores the necessity to continue without delay a national political dialogue to reach a comprehensive peace agreement, with the participation of all South Sudanese political and civil society representatives, including the SPLM detainees.

The United Nations stands with the people of South Sudan and will continue to do everything within its means to protect civilians at risk and provide the necessary humanitarian assistance.  In this context, the Secretary-General reiterates his call for all parties to ensure freedom of movement of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), humanitarian workers and human rights monitors, and welcomes the Government of South Sudan’s reassurances of its full support to the Mission and commitment to honour its status-of-forces agreement.

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For information media • not an official record