Western diplomats slam S. Sudan restrictions on UN mission

Western diplomats in South Sudan on Saturday condemned government restrictions on the United Nations mission in the country.

Western diplomats slam S. Sudan restrictions on UN mission
Western diplomats in South Sudan on Saturday condemned government restrictions on the United Nations mission in the country. "We condemn the ongoing violations of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) by the Government of South Sudan, including restriction of movement, harassment, and detention of personnel, and seizure of UN property and supplies," the diplomats said in a statement released in Juba. Aid organizations in South Sudan have recently complained about restrictions that prevent them from delivering relief assistance to thousands of civilians displaced by fighting between government forces and rebels in the world's nascent state.

The diplomats reiterated support for the U.N. mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to provide help for South Sudanese civilians. "We strongly condemn the continued obstruction of UNMISS operations by government and opposition forces and any threats to UNMISS personnel," they said, going on to call on all parties to publicly denounce any actions against the mission.

"We express concern at the dire humanitarian situation and urge all parties to expedite as a matter of urgency the free, safe and unhindered access of humanitarian organizations for the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to populations in need."

The diplomats also called on all parties to commit to peace negotiations, currently being mandated by the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) in Addis Ababa.

"Furthermore, we urge all parties to engage constructively in the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD)-led negotiations," said the ambassadors, who included those of the U.S., Britain, Norway, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada and the European Union.

South Sudan has been shaken by violence since last December, when President Salva Kiir accused sacked vice president Riek Machar of standing behind a failed coup attempt.

The violence has already claimed more than 10,000 lives.

The U.N. estimates that some 3.7 million South Sudanese are now "severely food insecure," while more than 867,000 have been displaced by the violence.
WARNING: Comments that contain insults, swearing, offensive sentences or allusions, attacks on beliefs, are not written with spelling rules, do not use Turkish characters and are written in capital letters are not approved.