The United States is concerned about the rising tensions in South Sudan, notably recent battles in Upper Nile state between the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement-In Opposition (SPLA/M-IO).
We urge all parties to fully comply with their commitments under the current peace accord, and we emphasize that inflammatory language is unhelpful and should be avoided at all costs.
The SPLM-withdrawal IO’s from all peace agreement monitoring and verification processes weakens the deal and must be rectified quickly as ceasefire monitoring agencies probe recent violence and attempt to hold perpetrators accountable.
The US urges President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar to do everything possible to de-escalate tensions and honor their respective duties under the 2018 peace deal, particularly the ceasefire clauses.
We urge both leaders to resume implementation of the revitalized peace agreement’s key, long-delayed provisions, such as establishing an inclusive process to draft a new constitution, establishing necessary electoral legislation and mechanisms, and respecting the freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
We urge regional states and institutions, particularly the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, that are guarantors of the revitalized peace agreement to take swift action to reduce tensions and re-establish the peace process before the already extended transition period expires in February 2023.
The worsening situation is the fault of all parties.
Neither President Kiir nor First Vice President Machar have made good faith efforts to implement the provisions of the revitalized peace agreement, and both have resisted serious efforts to move South Sudan closer to the peace, security, and prosperity that the South Sudanese people continue to desire.
Moreover, many other political leaders fail to carry out their official tasks, and many participate in political violence and generally violate the text and spirit of the peace deal.
We urge all members of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity to take the essential steps to establish credibility in the eyes of the South Sudanese people, beginning with strict adherence to and execution of the 2018 peace deal.
