EU condemns South Sudan turmoil

The EU Thursday condemned the continued human rights violations in South Sudan and called for the leaders of the country to be held accountable for the suffering of the people.
“Four years ago, leaders from around the world gathered in Juba to celebrate the birth of an independent South Sudan. The peoples’ hopes then were for a new, bright future. These hopes have been shattered” said EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica and EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Christos
Stylianides in a joint statement.
They noted that “twenty months of bloody civil conflict since December 2013 has brought terrible suffering and an ever increasing level of brutality targeted at civilians and children.” “The South Sudanese people expect the country’s leaders to urgently deliver. The perpetrators of such human rights abuses must not be allowed to act with impunity. It is essential they are held to account, and the African Union (AU) Commission of Inquiry report into the original causes of the current conflict should be published” said the EU.
It lamented that government and opposition leaders remain unwilling to engage seriously or to stop using violence as a means to achieve their objectives.
“People are still suffering. A greater willingness from South Sudan’s leaders to compromise and engage in a political process is essential to achieve lasting peace and prove their legitimacy,” it said.
The EU will continue to stand by the South Sudanese people and those who are acting for peace, added the statement.