Tagged: EU

May 02 2020: NAS press release on the all-out military offensive and displacement of civilians from their villages. Includes

How SSPDF cancelled all road movement by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and all NGOs to provide cover for the offensive and to deny UNMISS as well as NGOs access to areas and evidence of the humanitarian catastrophe in the making and the atrocities of the SSPDF- SPLA IO on civilians.
The recruitment and use a local militia known as “Enough Militia” belonging to Minister of Cabinet Affairs Dr Elia Lomoro
Evidence of Kiir lack of political will to negotiate a political settlement to end the conflict in South Sudan

The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) has commended statements by the Community of Sant’Egidio, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Security Council Penal of Experts on South Sudan denouncing the continuing blatant violation of the Cessation of Hostility Agreement (CoHA) 2017 and the concerted offensive targetting civilians by the Kiir’s regime.

The National Salvation Front (NAS) would like to commend the Trioka (Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and the European Union for their 20th July 2017 joint statement that expressed deep dissatisfaction and disapproval of actions and punitive measures being actively pursued by President Salva Kiir’s regime leading to the proliferation of violence, displacement, food insecurity and more suffering of the people of South Sudan.

Similarly, we commend the statement by El Ghassim Wane, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, also dated 20th July 2017 in which he pointed out contradictions between pledges and promises made by the government of South Sudan (such a s the National Dialogue and the declaration of a unilateral ceasefire) and actual actions on the ground (blocking of news media websites and the assault against the Headquarters of the SPLM-IO in Pagak).

These two statements confirm the position of the National Salvation Front (NAS). In fact, in our Independence Day Message (dated 09th July 2017), the Chairman of NAS, General Thomas Cirillo made it very clear that the current crisis can only be ended through an inclusive just peace process. Kiir’s National Dialogue, the re-unification of the SPLM, and talk of elections are all but unnecessary diversions from the main goals of achieving lasting peace and genuine reconciliation.

A sustainable peace would be achieved in South Sudan if the international community would follow up these declarations with actions that would force the government of South Sudan to cease and desist from its policies that will lead to the unfortunate disintegration of the country. While much is expected from the IGAD as the primary moderator and referee for the peace process in South Sudan, some assurance is needed that IGAD countries act in unison on a common objective – and abandon partiality in dealings with the Government of South Sudan.
We too remain seized of the need for a peaceful solution to South Sudan’s national crises, as we retain the right to self-defence against the regime’s victimization policies and practices.

Long live NAS!
Long Live South Sudan!

Warille Benjamin Warille
NAS Spokesman
23/07/2017