World powers urge Kiir, Machar to end ethnic violence, establish peace court  

JUBA – The Troika countries (United States, United Kingdom and Norway), Canada, France Germany and the European Union have wrote to the unity government asking for end to the ethnic violence at subnational levels and expeditious formation of the hybrid court provided for in the revitalized peace agreement.

The powerful countries are South Sudan’s friends and have contributed millions of dollars in aid to the world’s youngest country since independence in 2011. They have also support the parties to the conflict to reach the 2018 landmark agreement that ended the conflict in February 2020 with the formation of the unity government.

In a letter addressed to the unity government, the world powers urged the government to take immediate measures to protect humanitarian workers and provided unhindered access to areas suffering from food security and for the unity government to work with newly-appointed governors to end the subnational violence.

“Take immediate and effective measures to protect humanitarian workers and enable sustained and unhindered access for their efforts to provide relief to those who are experiencing food insecurity and other humanitarian needs,” they in the letter seen by Sudans Post.

“Work with newly appointed governors to de-escalate subnational conflicts and to hold accountable those responsible for perpetuating violence; to engage in dialogue directly, in conjunction with state and local officials, with those involved in such conflict and to make public the actions governors and state and local officials are taking,” the strong-worded message added.

It urged the government to work with the African Union “to establish the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, start its effective establishment, and set the commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing and the Compensation and Reparation Authority through broad-based consultations.”

According to reports by the United Nations, violence has escalated further in 2020 and in early 2021. The United Nations has accused some senior government and military officials of involvement in the conflict.