UN cautions against external intervention in South Sudan

The UN Security Council Friday expressed strong support for dialogue on the South Sudan conflict and strongly discouraged any external military intervention as a solution.

The Council President Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein, also the Jordanian, Permanent representative to the United Nations in a statement said, they strongly supported the mediation efforts led by the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), seeking a peaceful settlement to the crisis.

However, “The members of the Security Council also strongly discouraged external intervention that could exacerbate the military and political tensions,” Mr Zeid noted.

He, added that, Council members had renewed their calls to all parties for:  cessation of violence and hostilities, provision of humanitarian access, and security of economic infrastructure, including oil installations and the safety of the employees.

The caution against military intervention in the [near] month’ conflict which, according to UN. agencies has claimed lives of estimated 10,000 people, however did not highlight the way forward for external armies already involved.

Uganda at the onset of the fighting on December 15 which pitted President Salva Kiir’ against former Vice President, Dr Riek Machar, deployed units of soldiers to evacuate stranded Ugandans-and maintains them around strategic installations in the Capital, Juba.

But the army-UPDF- has now widened the scope of operations to peacekeeping and enforcement, which involves offensive operations against the rebel forces loyal to Dr. Machar.

Army spokesman, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, told Daily Monitor, Sunday that they have to work with “a legitimate government”, not the rebels.

He added that, Uganda is about to sign the Status of Force Agreement (SFA), which will see UPDF operations officially, defined.

“They have written to us officially and SFA will be signed soon with the government of South Sudan and if the Window is open, we might be involved in peace enforcement,” he said.

Several critics, including the Dr. Machar’ team negotiating a peace deal in the Ethiopian Capital, Addis Ababa, have all questioned Uganda’ unilateral position in the conflict, and urged President Museveni to withdraw his troops.

President Museveni has written to the Speaker of Parliament to retrospectively approve the deployment of Ugandan troops in S. Sudan saying, Uganda cannot and should not “stand aloof” and watch the situation deteriorate.

The Security Council also requested President Kiir’ government to release all political prisoners currently detained in order to create an environment conducive to a successful dialogue.

Side bar

They also welcomed the African Union Peace decision to establish a commission of investigation to ensure accountability, reconciliation and healing among all South Sudanese communities.