The Embassies of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the Delegation of the European Union, have expressed their ongoing concern regarding the political violence in South Sudan. They highlight repeated violations of the ceasefire and a lack of visible efforts by the transitional government to restore peace.
In a joint statement, these diplomatic entities reiterated their call for the release of political detainees. This action is deemed necessary to enable immediate direct dialogue among leaders from all parties involved, including President Kiir and First Vice President Machar. The statement emphasizes that the 40th session of the Revitalized Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), which has been postponed, should be rescheduled promptly. The focus should be on addressing critical challenges to peace.
Furthermore, they stressed that no unilateral actions should be taken that could endanger the 2018 peace agreement. It is crucial for South Sudan’s leaders to fulfill their obligations and show that their main priority is achieving peace.