Decision on the Situation in South Sudan – Doc. Assembly/AU/5(XXVII)

DECISION ON THE SITUATION IN SOUTH SUDAN

Doc. Assembly/AU/5(XXVII)

1. TAKES NOTE of the Report of the Chairperson on the State of Peace and Security in Africa and the briefing provided by the African Union (AU) Commission on the situation in South Sudan;

2. RECALLS the Peace and Security Council (PSC) communiques PSC/PR/COMM(DCIX) and PSC/PR/1(DCXII) of the 609^th and 611^th meetings of the PSC held on 30 June 2016 and 11 July 2016, respectively, on the situation in South Sudan;

3. STRONGLY CONDEMNS the outbreak of fighting that took place on 7 July 2016 in Juba, resulting in loss of lives and other tragic impacts on civilians, as well as the cowardly attacks against diplomatic missions, civilians sites, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) peacekeepers and the United Nations (UN) assets and facilities, as well as the looting of humanitarian stores;

4. EXPRESSES DEEP CONCERN at the slow pace and recurring setbacks on the implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (ACRSS) signed in August 2015. In this respect, the Assembly REITERATES ITS HEARTFELT DISAPPOINTMENT at the lack of implementation of the Peace Agreement by The South Sudanese Leaders;

5. URGES the parties to immediately respect a strict ceasefire and revert to the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) and live up to their commitments, as outlined in the Agreement, including through cooperating with the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), in order to achieve durable peace in the country;

6. COMMENDS the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for its leadership and untiring engagement in the quest for lasting peace in South Sudan, and PAYS TRIBUTE to the AU High Representative for South Sudan, former President Alpha Oumar Konare of Mali, and the Chairperson of JMEC, former President Festus Mogae of Botswana, for their sustained efforts. The Assembly URGES The South Sudanese stakeholders, in particular President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar, to show true leadership and commitment, by sustaining the current cessation of hostilities and committing themselves to the full and speedy implementation of the Agreement;

7. WELCOMES the meeting of Heads of State and Government of the IGAD-Plus on the situation in South Sudan held in Kigali, Rwanda, on the margins of the 27^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly and the IGAD ministerial meeting on the situation in South Sudan held in Nairobi, Kenya on 16 July 2016 and 11 July 2016, respectively;

8. ENDORSES the communique of the Summit meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the IGAD-Plus on the situation in South Sudan, in particular with respect to the reinforcement of UNMISS as proposed by the UN Secretary-General and the call to the UN Security Council to extend the Mission of UNMISS with a revised mandate, including the deployment of a regional protection force to separate the warring parties, protect major installations and civilian population and demilitarize Juba;

9. EXPRESSES DEEP CONCERN over the prevailing humanitarian plight in South Sudan and CALLS ON the international community to continue providing sustained support and assistance to the affected population. The Assembly APPEALS to the international community to provide assistance to the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU), in order for it to begin to fully function and meet the needs of the people, who must benefit from the peace dividends;

10. AWAITS the outcome of the planned PSC visit to South Sudan, and STRESSES the critical importance of the convening of a pledging conference in support of South Sudan as called for by the PSC.