Condemning Renewed Violence in South Sudan, Secretary-General Says Actions Violate Cessation of Hostilities Agreement

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

The Secretary-General strongly condemns the resumption of hostilities between the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and opposition forces in Bentiu and Rubkona in Unity State, South Sudan.  This resumption of hostilities is yet again a serious violation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and undermines the ongoing Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in South Sudan.

The Secretary-General calls upon President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar to cease immediately all military operations and reminds them of their obligation to protect civilians and respect international humanitarian law.

The Secretary-General reminds all parties of the inviolability of all United Nations premises, including UNMISS [United Nations Mission in South Sudan] Protection of Civilians sites, where the Mission is currently protecting some 100,000 displaced civilians countrywide — 49,000 of them in Bentiu alone.

The Secretary-General also urges both parties to participate constructively in the ongoing political negotiations in Addis Ababa and reach urgently an agreement on inclusive and comprehensive transitional arrangements.