MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on South Soudan
16.5.2017 - (2017/2683(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Charles Tannock, Karol Karski, Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Ryszard Czarnecki, Tomasz Piotr Poręba, Anders Primdahl Vistisen, Notis Marias, Ruža Tomašić, Raffaele Fitto, Bas Belder, Arne Gericke, Angel Dzhambazki, Jana Žitňanská, Geoffrey Van Orden, Branislav Škripek, Anna Elżbieta Fotyga, Monica Macovei on behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0358/2017
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on South Sudan, particularly on 11 March 2015,
– having regard to the UN Secretary General’s report on South Sudan covering the period from December 2016 to March 16, 2017
– having regard to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterress remarks to the Security Council on South Sudan on March 23, 2017
- having regard to the report of the Commission on the human rights situation in South Sudan, March 24, 2017
- having regard to the Troika Countries (UK, US and Norway) call on South Sudan Government to implement ceasefire, March 30, 2017,
- having regard to the UN Security Council’s final report of the South Sudan Sanctions Committee’s Panel of Experts April 13, 2017,
- having regard to the UN Security Council Resolutions 2327 (2016) for the extension of the mandate of UNMISS for one year and reauthorisation of the regional protection force in South Sudan,
– having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,
– having regard to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child,
– having regard to the Cotonou Agreement,
– having regard to the Sudanese Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005,
– having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the political, security, economic and humanitarian crisis in South Sudan is at the edge of a catastrophe as a result of the political dispute between the South Sudanese military and political authorities and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM); whereas the country is experiencing ethnic cleansing mostly by government forces and their allies and the situation on the ground can be described as genocide;
B. whereas since late 2013, thousands of people have been killed and more than 3 million people have been forced to flee their homes; whereas there are 1.54 million South Sudanese refugees in the region of which more than 108,600 people have fled to neighbouring Uganda; whereas 3,800 people have found refuge in catholic churches and whereas 25,000 people moved closer to the UN mission area for protection;
C. whereas hospitals, schools and clinics have been destroyed by the government, which constitutes a war crime; whereas equipment from hospitals and clinics have been stolen, which has led to the closure of the premises and persons not being able to receive lifesaving medical care; whereas more than one million people are currently receiving shelter in UN premises;
D. whereas sever fighting erupted on 8 April 2017 outside of the western town of Wau, when government forces and opposition opened fire in areas controlled by the opposition; whereas on 10 April 2017, the government military forces and its allies killed at least 16 civilians as an act of collective punishment because of their ethnicity and political views in Wau; whereas the government forces blocked the UN mission from protecting civilians;
E. whereas on February 20 2017 famine has formally been declared in some regions of South Sudan where more than 100,000 people face starvation and more than one million are classified as being on the edge of famine which is the worst hunger catastrophe since the fighting erupted in 2014; whereas more than one million children are currently acutely malnourished across South Sudan and in immediate need of medications and food;
F. whereas many deaths by cholera, malaria, measles, diarrhoea and acute respiratory illnesses are caused due to extreme poverty and deplorable living conditions and could have been prevented if only persons had access to health care;
G. whereas freedom of expression is extremely repressed in South Sudan; whereas at least nine journalists have been killed since 2011 and harassment, arbitrary detention, torture and executions are part of journalists’ life in the country;
1. Is deeply concerned by the worsening security and humanitarian situation in South Sudan which could destabilise the whole East Africa region; demands the end of violence and human rights violations, which may be labelled as genocide, and allow full access of humanitarian assistance to the civilian populations; calls for those responsible for perpetrating human rights abuses to be held accountable; strongly condemns the mass rape and torture;
2. Calls on all parties to respect human rights and international law and calls for a comprehensive arms embargo;
3. Condemns attacks on educational and public buildings and the use of schools for military purposes; calls on the parties to respect the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict;
4. Strongly condemns the use of child soldiers and calls for an immediate release and safe return of all children recruited by armed forces. Urgently reminds all parties involved in the conflict that the recruitment and use of children in armed forces and groups in a grave violation of international law;
5. Demands that the Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan follows its obligations under the States of Forces Agreement between the South Sudanese Government and the UN and allow, without delay, the UNMISS to implement its mandate in the country and to protect civilians; welcomes the extension of the UN Mandate UNMISS in South Sudan until December 2017;
6. Calls on the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop blocking the work of international and national humanitarian actors and allow them to carry out their work to care for civilians, including the most vulnerable and at risk;
7. Expresses sadness at the fact that the optimism born out of the 2011 independence movement has been lost amid inter-ethnic fighting among South Sudan’s many diverse groups, which is preventing South Sudan from establishing lasting democratic structures which will benefit all its citizens;
8. Expresses concern at widespread corruption within South Sudanese society, including regional and ethnic-based discrimination; is also concerned that such corruption harms the prospects of establishing a free and fair democracy, stability and economic growth;
9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government of South Sudan, the Human Rights Commissioner of South Sudan, the National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan, the African Union’s institutions, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the UN Secretary-General.