The Council adopted a series of conclusions on the
situation in South Sudan.
Peace Agreement: the
signature of the South Sudan peace agreement marks an important
step forward as it offers a unique opportunity for this war-torn
country to move towards a future of stability and of
responsible government in the interests of its citizens. In this
regard, the Council called for the rapid implementation in a full,
effective and inclusive way, involving all segments of society,
including women as important agents of change.
The EU urged all parties to respect the
ceasefire and refrain from all actions which contradict the
letter and spirit of the agreement. The EU saluted the efforts of
international and regional actors, in particular the
Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and the African
Union (AU), which were key to reaching this deal. The EU also
welcomed the AUs decision to publish the Commission of
Inquiry reports and to take the necessary steps to establish the
Hybrid Court of South Sudan as well as the AU Peace and
Security Councils 26 September 2015 call for the
implementation of the agreement.
Humanitarian situation:
the humanitarian situation in the country remains disastrous. The
Council recalled that:
- 2.2 million people have been displaced both inside and
outside the country;
- over four and a half million people have faced severe
food insecurity in the past four months;
- the renewed fighting, if prolonged, would increase the
likelihood of famine in the most affected areas.
Against this background, delays in the delivery of
urgently needed humanitarian assistance cannot be tolerated.
The EU urged all parties to ensure immediate, full and
unconditional humanitarian access.
Human rights: the
Council also highlighted the horrific violations and abuses of
human rights (especially against women and children). It called on
the authorities to fulfil the obligations under international
law.
Cotonou Agreement: the
Council stressed that the EU is ready to step up its engagement, in
close coordination with the international community, to support the
implementation of the agreement and called on South Sudan to ratify
the Cotonou Partnership agreement. Lastly, it stated that it is
ready to work with the Transitional Government of National Unity to
establish the transitional institutions and to develop sound
policies essential for the rebuilding of the country, in particular
to ensure the responsible, transparent and equitable management of
South Sudan's vast resources.