‘I am pleased that we can now see a positive development in South Sudan. IGAD and the parties deserve recognition for having taken an important step towards a peaceful solution to the conflict. The further negotiations will not be easy, and the parties must demonstrate that they really are willing to fulfil what they have promised,’ said Foreign Minister Børge Brende. At a meeting of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on 10 June, President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar agreed on the framework for a political solution to the conflict in South Sudan.
The two parties have committed themselves to stopping hostilities and to reaching agreement on the establishment of a transitional government within 60 days.
‘The deadline for establishing a transitional government clearly reflects the fact that the international community expects the parties to the conflict to shoulder their responsibility. Norway supports the important effort IGAD has made to prevent further violence by means of the Monitoring and Verification Teams, which have been established to monitor the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and improve humanitarian access in South Sudan.
‘We will continue our support to IGAD and we will continue to engage directly with the parties to help to ensure that the agreements are implemented. This is essential if the pledges of humanitarian assistance made at the humanitarian conference in Oslo on 19-20 May are to benefit the people of South Sudan,’ said Mr Brende.
(Press release)
