CEPO urges action-oriented UN resolution on South Sudan peace

[Elisabeth Janaina]

CEPO urges action-oriented UN resolution on South Sudan peace

A leading civil society group in South Sudan wants the UN General
Assembly meetings on South Sudan to adopt an action-oriented
resolution that prioritizes issues pertaining to the peace process and
humanitarian crisis.

The appeal comes ahead of meetings to be organized by the East African
bloc IGAD and the African Union (AU) on Thursday during the UN General
Assembly in New York. The meetings are expected to focus on various
issues covering the current humanitarian situation and the peace
process in South Sudan.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for
Progress (CEPO), said in a statement extended to Radio Tamazuj today
that the UN General Assembly meetings should adopt an
action-orientated decision instead of making press statements.

“Our expectations towards the meeting outcomes are centered on the
following; speedy facilitation of the IGAD-led revitalization forum
with specific elements of evaluating the past period of the peace
agreement implementation and ratify the gaps identified by the
evaluation process,” he said.

Yakani further said the revitalization process should be owned by the
people of South Sudan, pointing out that imported solutions always
lack ownership and acceptance.

“With regards to the National Dialogue, the meeting should stress for
it to be inclusive without pre-conditions by any South Sudanese party
or stakeholders. The National Dialogue should be made as a real
homegrown process seeking lasting peace and stability in South Sudan,”
said Yakani.

CEPO emphasized the need to allow unhindered humanitarian access in
the country, saying the practice of restricting aid workers by gunmen
should be discussed during the meetings.