The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has urged all parties to exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement following reports of the detention of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
In a statement, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, Nicholas Haysom noted that South Sudan stands at a critical point warning that leaders must choose between peace and conflict.
“Tonight, the country’s leaders stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict or taking the country forward towards peace, recovery and democracy in the spirit of the consensus that was reached in 2018 when they signed and committed to implementing a Revitalized Peace Agreement,” said Haysom.
Haysom further cautioned that unilateral amendments by Parties to that agreement could jeopardize the gains made in the past seven years.
“Unilateral amendments by Parties to that agreement that jeopardize the hard-won gains of the past seven years risk returning the country back into a state of war. This will not only devastate South Sudan but also affect the entire region.”
UNMISS is calling for Parties to immediately cease hostilities and engage in dialogue for the best interest of the people.
By Christine Muchira
