IGAD urges armed rebels to renounce violence, accept amnesty and join the national dialogue
Communiqué of the 30th Extra-Ordinary Summit of IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government on South Sudan, 25TH MARCH 2017, NAIROBI – KENYA
March 26, 2017 (SSB) — The IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government held its 30th Extra-Ordinary Summit on 25th March 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya, under the chairmanship of H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Chairperson of the IGAD Assembly, to deliberate on current situation in the Republic of South Sudan.
Held on the sidelines of the Special IGAD Summit on Durable Solutions for Somali Refugees and Sustainable Reintegration of Returnees in Somalia, the assembly was attended by H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti; H.E. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya; H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia; H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan; H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda; and H.E. Hasabo Mohamed Abdul Rhaman, Vice-President of the Republic of the Sudan.
Following briefings by the President of the Republic of South Sudan and the Vice-President of the Republic of the Sudan, and subsequent discussions, the Summit:
- Expressed deep concern about the worsening humanitarian crisis in South Sudan; and decided that all necessary measures must be taken to save lives and forestall the famine. Therefore, the Summit decided that all humanitarian corridors should be immediately opened without any conditionality to allow safe access to affected populations across the country. In this regard, the summit called for a confirmation of this action from the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) within a week;
- Welcomed the donation of the President of the Republic of the Sudan of 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian supplies to the people of South Sudan; and also welcomed the commitment of the President of Republic of South Sudan to ensure that the humanitarian supplies reach the intended beneficiaries;
- Condemned the proliferation of armed groups in South Sudan; and called on all armed groups to renounce violence as a means of solving the problems of South Sudan;
- Called upon all factions to immediately stop the fighting. In response to this call, the Government of the Republic of South Sudan agreed to announce a unilateral ceasefire and grant amnesty to those that renounced violence;
- Welcomed the position taken by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to announce a unilateral ceasefire and offer amnesty, and called upon all actors to join in the national dialogue;
- Urged both the Government of the Republic of the Sudan and the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to ensure that their territories are not used by any armed groups that threaten the security of both countries, as well as the implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (ARCSS);
- Encouraged all parties to fully commit to the implementation of the ARCSS, and in particular to focus on security sector reforms in order to build a republican army to guarantee the safety and security of South Sudan and its people;
- Further encouraged the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to work towards building an encompassing political process determined through a credible election, where all South Sudanese have an opportunity to determine their leaders and hold them to account;
- Reaffirmed the continued and collective engagement of IGAD Member States in the search of lasting peace, security and stability of South Sudan; and in this regard, committed to the revitalization of Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission. Further, called upon all parties to fully cooperate with JMEC and not impede the movement of the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM), and;
- Decidedto remain actively seized of the matters.
Done on 25th March 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya
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