Secretary-General, Welcoming Appointment of Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan, Urges Immediate End to All Hostilities

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

The Secretary-General welcomes the appointment today by President Salva Kiir of the Ministers of the Transitional Government of National Unity, consistent with the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan of 17 August 2015.  He is pleased to note that President Kiir and First Vice‑President Riek Machar have achieved this important milestone of the peace process and urges them to swiftly complete the establishment of all institutions of transition.  He also urges the parties to cease immediately all hostilities.

The Secretary-General commends the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) chair, President Festus Mogae, and the African Union High Representative, President Alpha Oumar Konaré, for steering the peace process forward, and reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to support all South Sudanese in restoring peace, stability and prosperity in the country.  He calls on the larger international community to remain actively engaged in the peace process and provide the necessary support to the full and timely implementation of the Peace Agreement.