The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, IGAD, has blamed South Sudan’s two warring parties of violating the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

During the opening of the South Sudan Peace Talks yesterday in Addis Ababa, the IGAD Special Envoy, General Lazarus Sumbeiywo disclosed that Government forces have recently violated the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in two areas.

“Violations in Pigi and Fangak Counties have been verified by the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism established by IGAD, which attributed responsibility for these violations to the Government forces. The Government itself has publicly claimed control of Fangak County in violation of its commitment. I call on the Government to immediately end hostilities and respect the commitment of President Salva Kiir made to the IGAD Summit on November 7.” The Envoy said.

IGAD also criticized the SPLM/SPLA in Opposition’s claim of expanding the conflict to Equatoria region.

“The SPLM/A In Opposition issued a statement two days ago in which their forces claimed to have escalated the conflict in Equatoria Region. Such actions are completely unacceptable and are direct violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.” He said.

UNMISS also condemned the atrocity committed in the fighting in Bentiu

In its preliminary findings, an UNMISS reports says opposition forces committed gross human right abuses and serious violations of international humanitarian law which may amount to war crimes.

The report stated that opposition forces abducted and raped residents of Bentiu after government troops withdrew.

The special representative of the UN secretary general in South Sudan, Ellen Margrethe Loej, says targeting of unarmed civilians in the ongoing fighting is unacceptable.

She calls on both parties to exercise restraint and respect the rights of non-combatants.