African Union Calls For Urgent Truce The African Union has called for an immediate humanitarian truce for the Christmas season, as a sign of a commitment by all concerned to the well-being of the people of South Sudan, where hundreds have been killed in a week of fighting. 22 December 2013
*ADDIS ABABA [Gurtong] - *In a statement on Saturday, the AU said that chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was "extremely saddened by the killing of innocent civilians and United Nations peacekeepers in Bor, in the Jonglei State of South Sudan. She condemns these killings as a war crime". The statement said that the Chairperson Dlamini-Zuma is also deeply alarmed by the deteriorating humanitarian situation that has already inflicted untold suffering on the civilian population, including killings, egregious violations of human rights and massive forced displacements. The Chairperson is profoundly dismayed at the recent turn of events that puts at risks countless human lives and jeopardizes the fundamental viability of the South Sudanese nation. The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates AU’s wholehearted support to the efforts of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which also involve the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, as well as the UN Special Representative to the AU, to secure an immediate end to hostilities in South Sudan. In this respect, she urges the Government of South Sudan and the other belligerent parties to invite the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to monitor a cessation of hostilities and to undertake all necessary activities for the protection of civilians. She also calls upon the parties to the conflict to facilitate the free and unhindered movement of humanitarian personnel and supplies to affected people in South Sudan. The Chairperson of the Commission expresses, once again, AU’s commitment to facilitate political dialogue involving the people and leaders of South Sudan, through the High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and in partnership with IGAD. She stresses that an inclusive dialogue on all relevant issues, based on the respect of human rights, the rule of law and constitutional legality and the rejection of the use of force, is the only way in which the South Sudanese can address their problems and resolve their differences. Posted in: Home<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/1/Home.aspx>, Foreign Relations<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/5/Foreign-Relations.aspx>, Governance<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/6/Governance.aspx>, Foreign Aid/Assistance<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/30/Foreign-AidAssistance.aspx> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14ooyWq4FfUcU294vS5w1JzYP%3Dg_t9qcy9yofCsC9dKDqUg%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
