S/PV.8299 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of South Sudan to take part in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the Ms. Bintou Keita, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2018/609, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on South Sudan, covering the period from 17 February to 3 June 2018. I now give the floor to Ms. Keita. Ms. Keita: I am grateful for this opportunity to brief the Security Council on the situation in South Sudan and the ongoing peace process since the publication of the report of the Secretary-General on 14 June (S/2018/609). Let me begin by condemning in the strongest possible terms the killing of a peacekeeper of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) earlier this week. Let there be no doubt that this is a war crime. In the coming days, we will engage all possible stakeholders to identify those who are responsible for heinous acts and expect the South Sudanese authorities to bring them to justice. The security situation on the ground remains a serious concern with parties to the conflict in consistent breach of the cessation of hostilities agreement that they themselves pledged to honour. In the context of this fighting, UNMISS has documented gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, particularly in central and southern Unity. Reporting on security incidents and the situation on the ground is a mandated task of UNMISS, and the Mission uses various tools to report on them. However, a distinction must be made between incidents reported by UNMISS and the reports of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism, which is mandated to verify ceasefire violations and then report on them. Since the publishing of the Secretary-General’s report on 14 June, UNMISS has recorded various security incidents. In Unity, between 5 and 6 June, the Transitional Government of National Unity and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in Opposition forces reportedly fought in Guar, Koch county, followed by attacks on Buok, Bieh, Leah, Lual, Botha and Padeah villages, in Leer, Mayendit and Koch counties. Reports of military attacks resumed on 12 June, with an alleged attack by Transitional Government of National Unity forces on Dablual, Mayendit county. Those were followed by further alleged attacks by Transitional Government of National Unity forces on Buaw, Koch county on 13 June and on the SPLM/A in Opposition positions in Mirmir, Ruol and Rubnor, Koch county, on 14 June. During the alleged attacks from 12 to 14 June, a number of civilians were reportedly killed and injured, civilian homes burned, and cattle and food looted. Also on 14 June, two men in a pickup were reportedly killed by a rocket-propelled grenade fired at their vehicle near Malal, north of Koch. The weapon was allegedly fired by SPLA in Opposition forces in the area. On 18 June, Transitional Government of National Unity forces, accompanied by a tank, allegedly attacked SPLM/A in Opposition forces in the area of Pilling, Thonyor-Kuidak in Leer county. On the following day, Transitional Government of National Unity forces allegedly attacked Thonyor and Pilling. Fighting continued near Thonyor on 19 June, which reportedly resulted in civilian deaths and injuries. On 17 June, in Western Equatoria, SPLM/A in Opposition forces reportedly attacked the SPLA barracks at Makpandu. Fighting was also reported between Transitional Government of National Unity and SPLM/A in Opposition forces at Wadhalelo in Jur River county and Ngobaggari in Wau county from 14 to 16 June. On 18 June, in Western Bahr el- Ghazal, UNMISS continued to receive information on ongoing attacks since 14 June on pro-Machar SPLA in Opposition positions in Baggari in Wau county and Wadhalelo in Jur county by the SPLA. Allegedly, the SPLA now occupies both locations, which were formerly under control of the opposition. On the same day, during an UNMISS patrol to Masna, in Wau county, ongoing fighting in Wadhalelo in Jur county was confirmed, as artillery and small fire arms were heard. On 20 June, UNMISS received information that, due to continued clashes between pro-Machar SPLA in Opposition and SPLA forces in Saura and Li-Rangu, 10 and 17 kilometres to the north of Yambio, Western Equatoria, respectively, many people from the Ndavuro. Makpara and Yabongo areas of Yambio fled to Yambio town. In addition, civilians from Ikpiro and Napere reportedly took refuge south of Yambio, in Masia and Kuze. On 23 June in Western Bahr el-Ghazal, UNMISS once again received reports of fighting between the SPLA and the pro-Machar SPLA in Opposition in areas near Wau. The SPLA reportedly deployed troops and military equipment, including tanks, into Baggari and Mboro. The fighting reportedly took place in Baggari, Wadhalelo, Mboro and Biringi, near Wau. In the course of preparing the Secretary-General’s report pursuant to resolution 2418 (2018), UNMISS requested the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism to share its verified reports. UNMISS received the Monitoring Mechanism reports on 26 June, which concluded that, since 1 June, there have been 11 verified incidents of fighting among parties and 12 other potential incidents that are under investigation. The Monitoring Mechanism report will be shared with the Council as an annex to the Secretary-General’s upcoming report, and on July 5 Under-Secretary-General Lacroix will brief the Council thereon. The continued fighting in South Sudan has had a direct impact on the humanitarian situation, in general, and food security, in particular, such as displacement from agricultural land and the destruction of food stocks; and an indirect impact, such as disruptions to food systems and markets and reduced water supply. The people of South Sudan are heavily suffering, as the country is rapidly approaching the peak hunger season of this year. Hunger and malnutrition have reached record levels, and 1.75 million people are on the brink of a catastrophe. By late July, more than 7 million people could be severely food insecure in the absence of sustained assistance and access, according to the latest food security analysis. It has been estimated that more than a million children under the age of five will be malnourished in 2018. That is a heavy and unfair price being paid by the most vulnerable members of society though no fault of their own. Moreover, in 2017, 30 aid workers were killed as a consequence of the conflict, and 7 have been killed since the beginning of this year. The past two weeks have seen significant activity vis-à-vis the peace process led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). On 21 June, the IGAD Council of Ministers met to discuss the way forward, which led to the first face-to-face meeting between President Kiir and Mr. Machar in Addis Ababa. The same day, an Extraordinary Summit of IGAD Heads of State and Government was held, during which it was decided that the two leaders would meet again in Khartoum under the auspices of the Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir to be followed two weeks later by another meeting hosted by President Kenyatta in Nairobi. The meeting in Khartoum took place on 25 June and was also attended by President Museveni of Uganda. In Khartoum, both President Kiir and Mr. Machar pledged to work for peace, and they have begun to discuss some of the contentious issues related to power-sharing and security arrangements. On 27 June, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Mr. Riek Machar Teny and representatives of the South Sudanese Opposition Alliance, SPLM “Former Detainees” and other political parties signed the Khartoum declaration of agreement among parties to the conflict of South Sudan. Although the Declaration broadly deals with all the contentious issues, further discussions are needed to iron out details to ensure that, this time, the parties implement the agreement under an effective implementation mechanism. Yesterday, the Secretary-General welcomed the signing of the declaration and urged all parties to demonstrate the political leadership required at this critical juncture of the peace process and commit to reaching agreement on the outstanding issues of governance and security arrangements in moving towards a fair, inclusive and implementable agreement. The engagement by the regional leaders and face-to- face meetings between President Kiir and Mr. Machar are positive developments that must be supported and capitalized upon. However, peace in South Sudan will not be achieved or sustained merely based on a bilateral deal between the two leaders. While the outcome of regional and international efforts to deliver a political settlement remains unclear, I must reiterate that peace will be sustained only if the revitalized agreement is inclusive and fair, addresses the root causes of the conflict and engages all stakeholders, including women and young people. In that regard, I wish to acknowledge the efforts exerted by the Office of the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan to enhance the participation of women in the revitalization process. Lastly, let me emphasize that the process will also require the constant support and engagement of the Security Council so that all stakeholders understand that a peaceful South Sudan will be supported by the international community, with consequences for those who continue to fuel the conflict.

I thank Ms. Keita for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

We wish to thank Assistant Secretary-General Bintou Keita for her useful briefing. I express our appreciation to her for her commitment to carrying out her heavy responsibilities since she took over her Office. The past couple of weeks have witnessed intensive engagement on South Sudan within the framework of the high-level revitalization process, and there is indeed positive momentum in that regard. The Council of Ministers of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the IGAD Special Envoy have been actively involved in shuttle diplomacy to engage the parties on some of the most important and outstanding issues related to security and governance. IGAD has made efforts to facilitate those discussions by presenting a bridging proposal. In that connection, issues were left for the principals to meet face-to-face and iron out their differences. The Addis Ababa meeting between President Salva Kiir and Mr. Riek Machar, under the auspices of my Prime Minister as the Chair of IGAD, provided such an opportunity after two years. Even though no breakthrough was achieved, the fact that the two met to discuss issues face to face was a step in the right direction. We believe that the Assistant Secretary- General is right in recognizing the importance of that development. All of us saw the outcome of the thirty-second IGAD Extraordinary Summit, held last week, which basically laid out the steps that need to be taken over the coming days to move the peace process forward. In that context, we very much welcome the outcome of the second face-to-face meeting between President Kiir and Mr. Machar in Khartoum, under the auspices of President Omer Al-Bashir and in the presence of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda, on the basis of the decision adopted by the IGAD Summit. We commend the two leaders for signing the declaration of principles and hope that will facilitate the resolution of some of the outstanding issues and pave the way for the finalization of the IGAD bridging proposal. In that regard, we welcome the statement issued by the Secretary-General yesterday (SG/ SM/19114). We hope the Security Council will send the right signal to the parties, encouraging them to stay the course and reach an agreement to end the suffering of the South Sudanese people. That message was also reinforced today by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat. The coming days will be very critical. The two leaders are expected to meet again in Nairobi, with the facilitation of President Uhuru Kenyatta. We hope the Nairobi meeting will build on the momentum generated in Addis Ababa and Khartoum to facilitate the successful conclusion of the peace process. In order to take advantage of the African Union (AU) Summit in Nouakchott, important meetings by IGAD and AU are going to take place on the margins. We hope those meetings will give the peace process a final push. It is against that backdrop that we are meeting today. The Council should put its weight behind those efforts. We know there has been a lot of frustration over the South Sudanese peace process because of so many twists and turns. We all know that there are issues that need further clarification, and we are not there yet in terms of achieving a final settlement. Nevertheless, we cannot afford to lose hope for peace. We can only encourage what little gain has been made and seize the momentum that has been generated recently to push the parties to make the necessary compromise and conclude the peace process. As the Secretary-General indicated in yesterday’s statement, it is critical for IGAD, the African Union and the United Nations to work together at this critical juncture in the peace process. Nevertheless, we remain concerned by the overall security situation. That was adequately covered by the Assistant Secretary-General. That is why we welcome the declaration of a permanent ceasefire by the parties in Khartoum, which will enter into force within 72 hours. What matters now, of course, is that the parties honour that commitment and implement the ceasefire. IGAD has strongly condemned the repeated violations of the cessation of hostilities agreement and has decided that the Sudan and Kenya should further investigate the reports of violations and submit to the next IGAD Summit the appropriate targeted punitive measures to be taken. We also note that the humanitarian situation remains dire. It is vital that all parties ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to allow humanitarian actors on the ground to reach those in need of urgent assistance. The role of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) continues to be very important. We are grateful to the civilian and military personnel of the Mission for their dedication and commitment in carrying out their mandate. We also commend the efforts made in ensuring adequate conditions for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need. We support the statement issued by the Council yesterday (SC/13399) and join the Assistant Secretary- General in strongly condemning the attack on the UNMISS convoy, which claimed the life of a Bangladeshi peacekeeper. That is unacceptable and we hope the Government will undertake the necessary investigation to hold those who committed that crime to account. Finally, with regard to the Regional Protection Force , the Ethiopian infantry battalion is now being fully deployed and the arrival of the troops and the equipment will be complete before the end of this month.

Allow me, at the outset, to express my gratitude to Ms. Bintou Keita, Assistant Secretary- General for Peacekeeping Operations, for her arduous work in discharging her duties and for her excellent presentation today of the report of the Secretary- General on the situation in South Sudan (S/2018/609). The Government of Equatorial Guinea wishes to once again commend the tireless work and efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to bring together the opposing parties for a direct and constructive dialogue on peace and stability in South Sudan. Approximately one month ago (see S/PV.8273), the Chamber bore witness to the existing divergence with regard to the situation in South Sudan. The differences consisted in disagreement on how to proceed, but we all had the same goal in mind — for all parties to respect the ceasefire and to return to the negotiating table. Today we can say with a high degree of optimism and certain satisfaction that the goal has been reached. That is why all delegations here today are to be congratulated, since our success is due, in part, to the attention we devoted to this issue and the pressure the Council brought to bear. Equatorial Guinea has closely followed the high-level diplomacy that, over the course of last month, has facilitated face-to-face meetings between President Salva Kiir and Mr. Riek Machar, which have culminated in yesterday’s signing of a joint agreement that establishes a permanent ceasefire and sets forth new commitments in some of the most contentious areas. We cannot but commend those actions, which are undeniably decisive steps in the right direction. Nevertheless, we remain cautiously optimistic, since it is not the first time that the parties come to agreements only to violate them later. We therefore call upon the sense of responsibility of the opposing leaders and remind them that this is a historic opportunity for their people and the international community. We trust that they will rise to the occasion. Moreover, Equatorial Guinea is quite concerned about the contents of the latest reports and briefings on the situation in South Sudan. We emphatically condemn the attacks on UNMISS forces on 4 June in the city of Leer, the recent cowardly attack in Central Equatoria province that killed a noble Bangladeshi soldier and all other attacks mentioned by Ms. Keita. We reiterate that such crimes must not go unpunished. Additionally, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations presented a fact sheet on violations of the UNMISS status-of-forces agreement, pursuant to which, inter alia, the parties committed to taking all appropriate measures to ensure the security and freedom of movement of UNMISS, its members, associated personnel and property and assets. In the light of that, we must respectfully remind all parties concerned that, in addition to seeking peace, they are obligated to alleviate the humanitarian needs of the population. That obligation can be met only by facilitating humanitarian operations and only when the threats and risks that humanitarian assistance organizations and their brave personnel face are eliminated. The Government of Equatorial Guinea calls on the Government of South Sudan to continue with its usual collaboration with UNMISS, IGAD and the African Union so that together they can reach the ultimate objective of bringing peace and stability to the people of South Sudan, who truly deserve it. We also welcome the joint statement by the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union on the successful signing of the agreement we mentioned earlier. We are certain that the issue will be dealt with on the sidelines of the African Union Summit that is currently under way in Nouakchott. Allow me to emphasize something that we have often said in our statements on this agenda item. Despite the most recent developments, it must be reiterated that now more than ever it is important that the parties to the conflict refrain from any actions that could aggravate the situation and take clear steps towards implementing the agreement signed in December 2017. That involves an end to the hostilities, the protection of civilians, access for humanitarian aid and an immediate return to the negotiating table in order to address in detail the outstanding issues. In conclusion, we reiterate the delight of my Government regarding the positive and encouraging news coming from that young and sisterly nation, which we wish and expect to have a great future despite the fact that they must work hard, learning from past lessons. We are also grateful to the parties, in particular the regional leaders President Kenyatta of Kenya, President Omer Al-Bashir of the Sudan and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, for acting and for the efforts of former President of Mali Alpha Oumar Konaré and his contribution. They made it possible to begin this new chapter. We call on them to continue to work with great dedication in order to safeguard that small but great victory. Finally, and no less important, we applaud the release of the 10 humanitarian workers who were kidnapped on 25 April in the vicinity of the town of Yei. They have been transported to Juba safe and sound.

At the outset, my delegation would like to thank Ms. Bintou Keita, Assistant Secretary- General for Peacekeeping Operations, for presenting the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in South Sudan (S/2018/609). With regard to the latest developments in the political arena, we highlight the rapprochement between President Salva Kiir and Mr. Riek Machar. The recent meetings of the two leaders give hope to a people that has been devastated by the conflict. Bolivia commends the agreement that establishes a permanent ceasefire, which should take effect in the coming hours. We call for its implementation, and we hope that the parties demonstrate a real commitment to peace and stability in South Sudan. The Khartoum agreement between the parties to the South Sudan conflict addresses crucial elements, such as the opening of humanitarian corridors, the withdrawal of troops, the separation of forces and the release of political prisoners, in addition to a 39-month transition period in order to call national elections, which need to be implemented promptly. On that last point we welcome the fact that an agreement that gives a reasonable time for the adequate preparation of such elections has been reached. However, despite those positive developments, it is a reality that the situation in South Sudan remains one of the most critical. The deterioration of the security situation and the country’s complex economic position further aggravate the humanitarian crisis, which is increasingly difficult to manage and affects more than half of the South Sudanese population. The reports from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs show that there are 7 million people who require humanitarian assistance and millions of internally displaced persons and refugees in neighbouring countries facing a lack of basic services and serious food insecurity. In addition to that, South Sudan has become one of the most dangerous places for humanitarian workers. We strongly condemn the attack against the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on 26 June, which resulted in the death of a member of the Mission. We express our condolences to his family. We call on the parties to respect international humanitarian law, as well as to ensure an optimal operational environment for UNMISS. Likewise, we commend the efforts of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), together with UNMISS, in the clearing and destruction of explosive devices. That work will contribute to resettling the displaced persons and to creating conditions favourable to the provision of humanitarian assistance. We regret the death of an UNMAS staff member while carrying out his work. In the same way, we express our condolences to his family. Given such a complex outlook, we are aware that it is very difficult to find immediate solutions. However, the Khartoum agreement represents a response to the current situation. In any case, progress cannot remain as only an intention. We once again reiterate that leadership and political will are necessary for the full implementation of those agreements. At the same time, this is an appropriate opportunity to commend the work of regional organizations, the effort and commitment of both the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union, which, through constant mediation between the parties and the Revitalization Forum, achieved an inclusive dialogue and brought the parties to starting talks about their main differences. Likewise, based on the reports of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism, we encourage regional organizations to take measures against those that hinder the peace process and do not implement the agreements achieved. To conclude, we express our gratitude to the members of UNMISS and to the entire United Nations team for their commitment to the South Sudanese people and for the work that they undertake in such a difficult and complex security environment.

We appreciate the convening of this meeting and the valuable information provided today by Assistant Secretary- General Bintou Keita. Peru notes with expectation the direct dialogue between President Salva Kiir and Mr. Riek Machar. We welcome the declaration of the Khartoum agreement between the parties to the conflict in South Sudan, signed yesterday, which we hope will lead the country towards sustainable peace. We trust that the next rounds of talks will make it possible to resolve issues of the governance and security of the country and to reach an agreement on the proposal of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) with regard to such pending issues. We would like to acknowledge the important role of IGAD, through its High-Level Revitalization Forum, as well as that of the United Nations, the African Union and various leaders of the region, in facilitating the dialogue between the Sudanese parties. We wish to encourage them to persevere in their efforts to achieve an inclusive, transparent and viable agreement. We emphasize the importance of regional and international support and assistance to ensure that, this time, the peace commitments are fully respected and implemented for the benefit of a population that faces one of the most serious humanitarian crises currently. In the immediate future, that implies observation of the permanent ceasefire, the opening of humanitarian corridors and the release of prisoners of war and political detainees. We must recall that the conflict in South Sudan has forced the displacement of more than 4 million people and that an estimated 7 million will face serious food insecurity in the coming months. For it to last, peace must allow for their urgent needs to be met and provide them with a future of development. To that end, we must express our concern about the serious difficulties that humanitarian assistance faces in reaching the population. The most recent report of the Secretary- General (S/2018/609) describes fatal attacks, arrests, bureaucratic interference, undue charges and the intimidation and harassment of humanitarian workers. All that must stop. We want to acknowledge the dedicated work of the humanitarian organizations and their workers. We deeply regret the death of a Bangladeshi Blue Helmet due to the attack on a humanitarian convoy this week. The fact must be investigated and those responsible must be brought to justice. We commend the United Nations Mission in South Sudan on its efforts to protect civilians. We highlight the initiative undertaken with the United Nations Development Programme to establish a specialized unit to protect the rights of women and children and to develop an action plan to prevent, mitigate and respond to conflict-related cases of sexual violence. We are concerned in particular about the considerable increase in the number of human rights abuses and violations and breaches of international humanitarian law in recent months, as negotiations took place to revitalize the peace process. In conclusion, we underscore that we cannot remain indifferent to the deaths of 383 civilians — including elderly people, persons with disabilities and children — and conflict-related sexual violence, which has affected 278 women and girls. Such horrendous crimes must be stopped and those responsible must face justice.

I join previous speakers in thanking Assistant Secretary-General Bintou Keita for her comprehensive update on the situation in South Sudan, as well as her tireless efforts and those of her able team to bring about peace in Africa. Allow me to make the following observations and recommendations. Like other delegations, Kazakhstan welcomes the signing of the Khartoum declaration of agreement by the parties to the conflict. We highly commend the concerted efforts of the United Nations, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), as well as the mediation efforts of the leadership of the Sudan and Uganda, which helped secure the peace deal. However, much remains to be done to achieve lasting peace and stability in South Sudan. The conflict has ruined the economy and millions of people have fled their homes in order to survive. Military action has intensified ahead of the rainy season and there is widespread violence against civilians. Aid workers and the personnel of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have remained but the humanitarian aid operation remains disrupted and nearly half of the population suffers from starvation and malnutrition. Against that backdrop, Kazakhstan hopes that the peace agreement will help build trust between the South Sudanese parties and prevent further escalation of the humanitarian and economic crisis in South Sudan. We are pleased to hear that President Kiir and Mr. Machar have respectfully committed to implementing the agreement. We expect that their words will become deeds. We look forward to the cessation of all hostilities and to the facilitation of humanitarian access and expect that the parties will strictly adhere to international law, including international humanitarian law, international human rights law and refugee law. We also expect that a revised bridging proposal will be concluded by the end of the current Khartoum talks. We also believe that political negotiations should take place in parallel with intercommunal reconciliation and confidence-building among local populations, as well comprehensive strategies in economic development and resilience-building, with the full engagement of women and youth. With regard to the upcoming negotiations on the renewal of the South Sudan sanctions regime, we look forward to receiving the report of the Secretary- General requested in resolution 2418 (2018). We reiterate that the position of countries of the region and regional organizations, namely, IGAD and the African Union, should be taken into account in the Council’s deliberations on any additional measures. It is of critical importance that the Council remain united in support of IGAD and African Union efforts. In conclusion, we strongly condemn the recent attack on UNMISS, which resulted in the killing of a Bangladeshi peacekeeper. We express our deepest condolences to his family and to the people and the Government of Bangladesh and call on the Government of South Sudan to investigate the attack. I conclude by thanking UNMISS for implementing its mandated tasks under very difficult circumstances and by commending the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan, Mr. Shearer, and the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Sudan and South Sudan, Mr. Haysom, on their tireless efforts and commitment to seeking a solution to the crisis in the country.

I would like to thank Ms. Bintou Keita for her excellent briefing. First of all, I would like to firmly condemn the cowardly attack on a convoy of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on 26 June, which resulted in the death of Bangladeshi soldier, and extend condolences to the family of the victim and to the Government of Bangladesh. My country remains deeply concerned about the security situation in South Sudan five years after the start of the conflict. Despite the cessation of hostilities agreement signed by the parties to the conflict on 21 December 2017, clashes continue in several regions of the country, leading to loss of life and the displacement of many civilians. My country strongly condemns violations of the cessation of hostilities agreement and again calls on the parties to the conflict to honour their commitments and end the clashes. My delegation is also concerned about the ongoing inter-ethnic violence and welcomes the civilian disarmament initiative adopted by the Government of South Sudan. Côte d’Ivoire encourages the Government to redouble its efforts to ensure the security and well-being of the population. My country remains convinced that lasting peace will not be achieved in South Sudan without a political solution negotiated by the parties to the conflict. We welcome the efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union and UNMISS to encourage the parties to the conflict to resume negotiations towards a lasting and inclusive political settlement to the crisis. In that regard, my delegation welcomes the diplomatic efforts of the Ethiopian Prime Minister, which led to the meeting between President Salva Kiir and former First Vice-President Riek Machar, held in Addis Ababa on 20 June. We welcome the fact that mediation efforts by the Sudanese President led to the signing by the parties in Khartoum on 27 June of a declaration of agreement, in which they commit to implementing a permanent ceasefire and to continuing discussions to reach an agreement on power-sharing and security arrangements. Côte d’Ivoire welcomes the good offices of the leaders of IGAD member States and reaffirms that it is up to the parties to the South Sudanese conflict to honour the commitments made through the signing of the declaration, which constitutes a decisive step in the quest for peace in South Sudan. In that regard, Côte d’Ivoire supports the deployment of an IGAD-African Union contingent tasked with enforcing the permanent cessation hostilities agreement, as mentioned in the agreement. The fragile nature of the humanitarian situation in South Sudan remains a source of concern for the international community. With approximately 2.5 million refugees and 1.8 million internally displaced persons, it is one of the most serious humanitarian situations in the world. Humanitarian organization estimates of more than 7 million people who are food insecure and more than 1 million children at risk for malnutrition serve to underscore the urgent need for increased humanitarian assistance to South Sudan. Côte d’Ivoire thanks humanitarian organizations for their considerable efforts to help people in need and strongly condemns the recurring attacks on humanitarian workers. We urge the parties to the conflict in South Sudan to guarantee the safety of humanitarian workers, remove the obstacles to humanitarian assistance and enable humanitarian access to the population, in line with the 21 December 2017 agreement. The human rights situation also remains a source of concern, in particular because of acts of sexual violence committed against women and the use of child soldiers by the parties to the conflict. My delegation therefore calls for the urgent establishment of transitional justice institutions, such as a hybrid court for South Sudan, which will be an effective tool for protecting human rights and combating impunity. My country would like to congratulate UNMISS on its excellent work in discharging its mandate in a particularly challenging environment. We underscore our support for the Mission and urge it to continue its work, specifically to protect civilians and human rights. My country therefore urges the Government to respect the status-of-forces agreement, which remains the legal framework for cooperation between the Government and the United Nations Mission with a view to restoring peace and stability in South Sudan. In conclusion, the latest political developments give us hope that lasting peace is possible in South Sudan. However, it remains dependent upon the political will of the South Sudanese leaders and their robust ownership of the process of exiting the crisis, as well as on the regional support provided by IGAD and the African Union. In that regard, my country calls on the United Nations to support the current momentum and all the efforts of the countries involved.

I now give the floor to the representative of South Sudan.

My delegation would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your presidency of the Security Council for the month of June and for your wise leadership during your tenure. We would also like express our wish that the host country win the World Cup in a few days’ time. I would also like to acknowledge and welcome the presence of Ms. Bintou Keita, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. On Tuesday, 26 June we heard the sad news that Lieutenant Commander Ashraf Siddiqui, a Bangladeshi peacekeeping officer protecting a humanitarian convoy in Yei area, had been killed. My delegation would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt condolences to the family of the officer, the Government and the people of Bangladesh and the United Nations family at large. The Government of the Republic of South Sudan will cooperate with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan to see to it that those who committed this crime are identified and brought to account. Last month, the Security Council adopted resolution 2418 (2018), which, at the time, we thought unwise and premature because the peace negotiations led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) were in progress and that peace process should be given every chance to succeed. We stated last month that there was light at the end of the peace tunnel. Today we are happy to report that the light is much brighter than it was last month. We are delighted to report to the Security Council that there was positive news from Khartoum yesterday, namely, that the warring parties — not a just bilateral arrangement between Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, but all the warring parties in South Sudan — had signed a peace declaration in which they have all pledged to work together to bring peace to the people of South Sudan. While the document signed is a framework for peace, we are hopeful and very optimistic that a final peace agreement will be concluded in the very near future. At this juncture, I would like to announce that, in the next few hours, President Salva Kiir will decree a comprehensive ceasefire all over South Sudan. In the meantime, we would like to appeal to the Council and, through it, to other international actors and entities concerned with the situation in South Sudan to give the IGAD peace process currently and earnestly under way in Khartoum their full support. The Security Council must be seen as fully supporting the peace process for South Sudan, not just eager to dole out blame and punishment whenever there is a setback in the process of peacemaking. In conclusion, we would like to thank the IGAD leaders and the members of the Security Council for going the extra mile to give peace a chance in South Sudan. Their patience and perseverance will soon be duly rewarded by an agreement that will be acceptable and implementable.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject.