Answer given by Vice-President Mogherini on behalf of the European Commission

24.6.2019

The High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP) shares the Honourable Member's concerns about the human rights violations and abuses, documented in various United Nations (UN) reports, including reports by the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Civilians, especially the most vulnerable, continue to bear the brunt of the conflict in South Sudan.

The peace agreement signed in September 2018 has led to a cessation of hostilities, which is largely respected. Unfortunately, fighting has continued sporadically, inter-communal violence is growing and high levels of sexual and gender-based violence occurred, in particular in Unity State in November 2018. The environment of impunity continues and contributes to the deterioration of the human rights situation.

The EU is following very closely the peace process in South Sudan, in cooperation with the UN Special Representative for South Sudan, UNMISS, and International Community partners. The EU supports the monitoring of the implementation of the peace agreement and reconciliation initiatives at local level, while continuously advocating for the respect of international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict.

The full implementation of international human rights commitments of South Sudan remains a challenge. For the HR/VP, the discussions in the framework of the UN CHRSS, whose mandate has been recently renewed with the EU’s full support, and in the Council of Human Rights, as well as cooperation with the OHCHR and Human Rights discussions during consultations on South Sudan in the UN Security Council, are a key instrument for atrocity prevention and human rights promotion.

The EU is not aware of any European or American oil companies working in South Sudan and being involved in the conflict.