MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in South Sudan

13.1.2014 - (2014/2512(RSP))

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Isabelle Durant, Judith Sargentini, Barbara Lochbihler, Jean-Jacob Bicep, Nicole Kiil-Nielsen, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Jean Lambert, Iñaki Irazabalbeitia Fernández on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0018/2014

B7‑0019/2014

European Parliament resolution on the situation in South Sudan

(2014/2512(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the 2005 Sudanese Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA),

–   having regard to the UN Security Council decision of 24 December 2013 to nearly double the number of peacekeepers in the country – from 7 000 to 12 500,

–   having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted in 1966,

–   having regard to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted in 1966,

–   having regard to African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, adopted in 1981,

–   having regard to its previous resolutions,

–   having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the political tension between President Salva Kiir and former Vice-President Riek Machar, both high ranking political leaders of the Sudan Liberation Movement Army (SPLM/A), led to a violent armed conflict, which has caused the deaths of thousands of people;

B.  whereas the fighting began on 15 December 2013, when clashes erupted between two factions in military barracks in Juba, and whereas President Salva Kiir blamed the incident on a failed coup attempt by his former vice-president, Riek Machar, which Machar denied;

C. whereas the Government of South Sudan has arrested 11 senior politicians, including the former finance minister and the former Secretary-General of the SPLM party over an alleged coup plot against President Kiir;

D. whereas peace talks arranged by the region’s Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) are being held in Addis Ababa;

E.  whereas the current conflict, which has also taken on ethnic dimensions, has its roots in the 1991 split within the SPLM/A between the faction of Garang, the late leader of the SPLM/A with whom Salva Kiir stood, and the faction of Riek Machar contesting the leadership of Garang;

F.  whereas the current conflict should find a democratic political solution and pave the way for democratically agreed institutions to build the new state which came into being after the independence referendum;

G. recalling that the 22-year civil war between the North and South cost the people many lives and much destruction and suffering;

H. whereas the humanitarian situation is alarming, and whereas the number of internally displaced people is estimated by OCHA at 201 000 and humanitarian access is constrained by hostilities and attacks on aid workers and assets;

I.   whereas in South Sudan about 80 % of all health care and basic services are provided by non-governmental organisations;

J.   whereas the majority of the population live in widespread poverty despite the fact that the country is rich in oil and natural resources, with oil exports accounting for more than 70 % of GDP and about 90 % of government revenue;

1.  Welcomes the peace negotiations under the auspices of IGAD in eastern Africa and calls on both parties to reach a comprehensive peace agreement;

2.  Calls on President Salva Kirr and the former vice-president, Riek Machar, to halt hostilities and settle their political differences through a comprehensive agreement based on frank, democratic and peaceful negotiations;

3.  Calls for the release of all political prisoners and in particular the 11 senior politicians whose detention has become a sticking point in the peace negotiations;

4.  Calls on all parties to take measures to prevent human rights violations and abuses against civilians and considers that South Sudanese leaders, especially President Kiir and Riek Machar, should do all they can to stop soldiers under their control from committing such abuses against the people;

5.  Calls for an independent investigation committee to be set up, with the support of the UN, into the killings and crimes committed and in order to bring to justice those responsible for these abuses and end impunity;

6.  Call on the South Sudanese Government to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, including the right to life and physical integrity, freedom of association and freedom of assembly;

7.  Considers it essential to put in place a truth and reconciliation committee to deal with violence-related abuses, address victims’ rights and facilitate the country’s transition to a democratic state, based on respect for human rights, the rule of law and accountability in order to ensure decent living conditions for the population;

8.  Calls on the negotiating parties to include in the peace deal the issue of transparency and public scrutiny in the oil sector, in such a way as to allow the revenue from this resource to be used for the sustainable development of the country and to improve the livelihood of its population;

9.  Calls on the EU to increase its efforts to provide humanitarian aid for internally displaced people and South Sudanese refugees in the neighbouring countries;

10. Calls on all parties to comply with international humanitarian law and to guarantee safe access to humanitarian organisations in order to enable them to respond to the population’s needs;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President / High Representative, the EU Special Representative to South Sudan, the Government of Sudan, the Government of South Sudan, the UN, IGAD and the African Union.