European Parliament Condemns Violence in South Sudan

November 13, 2014

In a resolution voted on Thursday, the European Parliament strongly condemned the resumption of violence in South Sudan. It also called for an immediate ceasefire and urged the global community to impose targeted sanctions. 

According to UN estimates, more than 10,000 people have died since the political conflict between South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and his sacked Vice-President Riek Machar began, 3.8 million South Sudanese need humanitarian assistance and 1.4 million are internally displaced.

MEPs condemn continual breaches of the ceasefire agreement signed on January 23, 2014 and reconfirmed on May 9. They call for credible and transparent investigations by the African Union Commission of Inquiry that meet international standards in relation to all serious crimes by any party to the conflict.

Parliament regrets the "ineffectiveness of the targeted sanctions imposed by the EU" and calls for targeted sanctions to be imposed by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union and the global community.

The EU has provided more than one third (38%) of all international contributions in response to the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, with the European Commission alone increasing its humanitarian aid budget to combat the crisis to €130 million (about $163 million) in 2014. 

MEPs wish the EU to re-programme its development assistance to meet the most urgent needs of the South Sudanese people and thus welcome the suspension of development assistance in the form of budget support for the country, with the exception of actions providing direct support to the population, direct support for the transition to democracy and humanitarian aid.

Originally published by the European Parliament. 

Photo courtesy of Miguel Escoriza.