Council conclusions on South Sudan

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

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Council conclusions on South Sudan

FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting Brussels, 20 January 2014

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

" 1. The European Union (EU) condemns the ongoing hostilities in South Sudan and deplores the resulting suffering and loss of human life. It is alarmed by the deteriorating humanitarian situation and reports of large-scale human rights violations. The EU calls on all parties to agree an immediate cessation to hostilities and violence. It urges all political and military leaders to protect the population and to act in the interests of the South Sudanese people as a whole.

• 2. 

  The EU stands firmly behind the mediation led by the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and commends their efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire accompanied by effective monitoring, and to open the way for an inclusive political dialogue. In the context of a political process, the EU strongly supports the call by IGAD and the African Union (AU) for the immediate release of all political leaders currently detained in Juba. The EU calls on all parties to negotiate in good faith towards a peaceful, comprehensive and sustainable solution that addresses the underlying causes of the conflict. The EU encourages all regional and international efforts to align with and support IGAD mediation efforts and strongly discourages external intervention that could exacerbate the political and military tensions. It will continue to support IGAD's mediation efforts to resolve the crisis, including through the EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa in close coordination with the "Troika" and other international actors. The EU stands ready to consider financial support for the negotiations and their eventual outcome, including a possible ceasefire monitoring mechanism.

• 3. 

  The EU is deeply concerned at reports of widespread human rights violations and abuses, including ethnic targeting. All those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law must be held accountable for their actions. In particular the protection of all civilians must be respected. The EU welcomes the AU's intention to establish a Commission to investigate the human rights violations and abuses committed since 15 December 2013, including the root causes and triggering factors that led to the violence, and encourages this Commission to begin its work as soon as possible.

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• 4. 

  The EU also supports the efforts of the United Nations (UN), in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2132 (2013), to allow for the swift strengthening of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), in particular in relation to its mandate to ensure the protection of civilians as well as the strengthening of its human rights investigative capacity.

• 5. 

  The EU is increasingly concerned by the humanitarian consequences of this new crisis, which comes on top of an already fragile situation, and the increasing number of internally displaced persons and refugees. It pays tribute to the work of those humanitarian aid organisations and individuals who have stayed and delivered help, in a highly volatile and dangerous environment, sometimes at the cost of their lives. The EU welcomes the role of the UN in coordinating the humanitarian response. It condemns all restrictions on humanitarian activities and calls on all parties to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all populations in need, in accordance with international humanitarian law and principles. The EU remains fully committed to respond to the deteriorating humanitarian situation and calls for adequate assistance to sustain humanitarian efforts in South Sudan.

• 6. 

  The EU stands ready, if necessary, to consider targeted restrictive measures against individuals obstructing the political process, in support of AU and IGAD efforts and in close coordination with international partners."

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