Security Council Condemns Fighting in South Sudan

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned continued

fighting across South Sudan, particularly incidents in the Equatoria and
Upper Nile regions of South Sudan and called on all parties to cease
hostilities immediately. The members of the Security Council also
condemned in the strongest terms all attacks directed against civilians
and expressed serious concern that, once again, there are reports of
killing of civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, destruction of
homes, ethnic violence, and looting of livestock and property. The
members of the Security Council urged the Transitional Government of
National Unity to take measures to ensure that those responsible for the
attacks are held accountable. They expressed deep alarm that more than
84,000 individuals have fled South Sudan since the beginning of January
and that many continue to be displaced internally.

The members of the Security Council stressed the primacy of the political
process and that there is no military solution to the conflict and reminded
all parties in South Sudan that implementation of the ceasefire is critical
for the success of any genuine, inclusive political process, including
national dialogue, and that such a process should be based on the
framework provided by the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in
the Republic of South Sudan (the Agreement) and aimed at achieving
national reconciliation and enhancing the trust among parties in South
Sudan. They reiterated their call on all stakeholders to commit to full
implementation of the Agreement.

In this regard, they welcomed the continued and collective commitment in

the search for lasting peace, security and stability expressed by the
African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development
(IGAD), and the United Nations (UN) during the joint consultative meeting
on South Sudan in Addis Ababa on January 29, 2017. The members of the
Security Council committed to work closely with IGAD, the AU High
Representative for South Sudan former President Alpha Oumar Konare, the
Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission former
President Festus Mogae, and the UN Secretary-General in support of the
South Sudan peace process.
The members of the Security Council expressed appreciation for UNMISSs
tenacity in its efforts to carry out its protection of civilians mandate and
expressed deep concern that UNMISS continues to face obstacles from the
Transitional Government of National Unity hindering the ability of UNMISS
to carry out its mandate to protect civilians and create conditions
conducive to delivery of humanitarian assistance. The members of the
Security Council reminded the Transitional Government of National Unity
of its commitment in the September 4, 2016, Joint Communique to permit
freedom of movement of UNMISS and expressed deep disappointment
that the Transitional Government of National Unity continues to act
inconsistently with this commitment and its obligations under the Status
of Forces Agreement with the United Nations.

The members of the Security Council reiterated that targeting civilians

may constitute war crimes and those involved could be subject to
sanctions as authorized under resolution 2206 (2015) for actions that
threaten the peace, security or stability of South Sudan.

10 February 2017