IGAD Chief Workneh Gebeyehu urges restraint and dialogue in South Sudan amidst rising tensions and violence in Nasir County, emphasizing the need to protect peace agreements. A high-level IGAD delegation will assess the situation, aiming to engage with the government on peace restoration measures.
Workneh Gebeyehu, the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), has urged for restraint and constructive dialogue to diffuse the heightened tensions in South Sudan. In a statement, he expressed significant concern regarding the escalating armed clashes occurring in Nasir County, which jeopardize the hard-won progress of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and threaten the overall peace in the nation.
Gebeyehu emphasized the necessity for all parties to maintain maximum restraint, recommit to the R-ARCSS, and embrace dialogue and reconciliation as essential for achieving lasting peace. He underscored the importance of protecting civilians and ensuring regional stability. The East African bloc, comprising eight member states, plans to send a high-level delegation to evaluate the situation and engage with the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity regarding actions to restore tranquility and further the peace process.
The clashes erupted in mid-February between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and armed civilian groups in Nasir County, escalating after a government announcement to deploy new forces to rotate troops that had been stationed there for several years. Reports indicate that over 20 individuals have been killed, with more injuries recorded near the now-deserted town of Nasir, strategically located by the South Sudan-Ethiopia border.
In summary, IGAD’s Executive Secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu, has called for restraint and dialogue to address the escalating tensions in South Sudan, particularly in Nasir County. He highlighted the need for all parties to recommit to the R-ARCSS and pursue reconciliation to assure peace and civilian safety. IGAD’s forthcoming delegation aims to assess the situation and support the peace process amidst ongoing violence and challenges to stability.
Original Source: ommcomnews.com
