S/PV.8634 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. After consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council. “One year after the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the Security Council underlines that the R-ARCSS is an important step forward in the peace process that provides a window of opportunity to achieve sustainable peace and stability in South Sudan, and recognizes the reduction in political violence in South Sudan and the return of some representatives of opposition parties to Juba. “The Security Council welcomes the recent meetings between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Mr. Riek Machar as a positive development, and calls for the senior leadership of the parties to the R-ARCSS to continue to hold regular face-to- face meetings to resolve outstanding issues in order to enable the peaceful formation of a Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity, in accordance with the timeline agreed to by the parties on 3 May and reflected in a communiqué by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). “The Security Council welcomes the initial progress in implementing the R-ARCSS, including the formation of certain R-ARCSS institutions and mechanisms, joint peacebuilding activities at the local level and an improved environment in many areas for delivery of humanitarian assistance. “The Security Council calls on parties to the R-ARCSS to expedite the process of implementing transitional security arrangements and to continue consultations on the issues of the number and boundaries of states with a view towards finding a common solution. “The Security Council urges the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to disburse the balance of its pledged funds for the implementation of the R-ARCSS in a transparent and accountable manner and to continue to make funds available for the ongoing implementation of the peace agreement. “The Security Council expresses concern at the dire humanitarian, human rights and economic situation in South Sudan and condemns all violations of the R-ARCSS and the 21 December 2017 Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access, including the ongoing conflict in the Equatorias region, and the continued use of sexual violence as a tactic by the parties to the conflict against the civilian population. “The Security Council appreciates IGAD’s role in facilitating progress on the peace process in South Sudan and takes note of its recommendation to hold an Ordinary Summit of IGAD to address outstanding issues, including the status of Mr. Riek Machar. The Security Council encourages IGAD to appoint a permanent chairperson for the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC). “The Security Council expresses appreciation for the critical role that the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) and RJMEC play in supporting the implementation of the R-ARCSS and demands that the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and opposition groups cease their obstruction of UNMISS and CTSAMVM activities. “The Security Council calls for parties that are not signatories to the R-ARCSS to renounce violence, adhere to the cessation of hostilities agreements and seek a political resolution to their concerns about the R-ARCSS, and further calls for parties to the R-ARCSS to engage with non-signatories in a non-violent and constructive manner. “The Security Council further calls on all parties to the R-ARCSS, as well as non-signatory armed groups in South Sudan, to protect medical facilities and medical personnel, as well as civilians and civilian objects, including schools; to allow people to move freely; and to allow the rapid, safe, and unhindered access of relief personnel, equipment and supplies, in accordance with principles of humanitarian assistance, including humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence, to help ensure the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need. “The Security Council looks forward to seeing substantive progress on those activities during its October 2019 visit to Juba. “The Security Council urges parties to the R-ARCSS to continue taking steps, in line with the provisions of the peace agreement, to promote the meaningful participation of women in the formation of a Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity, and calls on all parties to the R-ARCSS and armed groups in South Sudan to cease all acts of sexual and gender-based violence; to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers; to end the killing and maiming of children and sexual violence against children; and to release all children that have been recruited to date. “The Security Council takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on UNMISS protection of civilians sites and encourages all stakeholders to continue substantive conversations to devise a substantial path forward for the protection of civilians sites. “The Security Council underscores the pressing need to ensure accountability and end impunity for any violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law in South Sudan. The Security Council takes note in that regard of chapter V of the R-ARCSS and calls for its implementation. “The Security Council stresses that actions that threaten the peace, security or stability of South Sudan may be subject to sanctions under resolutions 2206 (2015), 2290 (2016), 2353 (2017), 2428 (2018) and 2471 (2019), and affirms that it shall be prepared to adjust measures contained in those resolutions in the light of the implementation of the parties’ commitments, including the ceasefire. “The Security Council reiterates its support for the people of South Sudan and reaffirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of the Republic of South Sudan.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2019/11.