UNSC urges immediate end to the fighting in Juba

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) NEW YORK, July 11 (KUNA) -- UN Security Council members urged an immediate end to the fighting in Juba by all concerned parties.

It also demanded that President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Reich Machar do their utmost to control their respective forces, urgently end the fighting and prevent the spread of violence, and genuinely commit themselves to the full and immediate implementation of the peace agreement, including the permanent ceasefire and redeployment of military forces from Juba.

The members of the Council met urgently on Sunday evening for urgent consultations on the situation in South Sudan, upon the US'' request, in light of the recent violence in Juba between the Sudan People''s Liberation Army or SPLA and the Sudan People''s Liberation Army in Opposition or SPLA-IO.

Walking in to the meeting, the US Ambassador Samantha Power said "we called this meeting because the situation''s spiraling out of control. We are extremely worried by what appears to be the lack of command and control over the troops." The US official said that the targeting of what are meant to be inviolable UN premises is totally "outrageous and unacceptable," and goes beyond even the savagery seen over the life of this conflict.

On behalf of the 15-member body, Ambassador Koro Bessho of Japan read out after the meeting a press statement condemning in the strongest terms the escalation of fighting in Juba, South Sudan that started on July 7.

He said that the members of the Security Council expressed particular "shock and outrage" at the attacks on UN compounds and protection of civilians sites in Juba.

The Council president condemned in the strongest terms all attacks and provocations against civilians and the UN, emphasizing the need for UN protection of civilians sites and UN personnel to remain secure.

In the statement, the Council members reminded all parties, including government security forces, of the civilian character of the protection of civilian sites in South Sudan, and stressed that attacks against civilians and UN premises and personnel may constitute war crimes.

The UN top body emphasized the importance of transparent investigations into these crimes and that those involved must be held accountable and could be potentially subject to sanctions as authorized under resolution 2206 for actions that threaten the peace, security or stability of South Sudan.

The members of the Security Council encouraged countries in the region, the African Union Peace and Security Council and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, to continue firmly engaging with South Sudanese leaders to address the crisis.

The Japanese-led Council expressed in their press statement their support for the UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), expressing their readiness to consider enhancing the mission to better ensure that it along with the international community can prevent and respond to violence in South Sudan. The members of the Security Council encouraged states in the region to prepare to provide additional troops in the event the Council so decides. In the interim, the members of the Security Council stressed the need for UNMISS to make full use of its authority to use all necessary means to protect civilians.

Earlier on Sunday, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement released by his press office, that this "senseless" violence is unacceptable and has the potential of reversing the progress made so far in the peace process.

"United Nations compounds and protection of civilians sites in Juba have been caught in the cross-fire," he said.

The UN chief is deeply frustrated that despite commitments by South Sudan''s leaders, fighting has resumed, the statement added. Ban urged the leaders to take decisive action to regain control of the security situation in Juba; prevent the spread of violence to other parts of the country; guarantee the safety and security of civilians, United Nations and other personnel; and genuinely commit themselves to the full implementation of the peace agreement.(end) mao.tg