UN calls for political solution to S. Sudan crisis

NEW YORK, April 25 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary General's Special Representative for South Sudan David Shearer on Tuesday stressed the need of putting an end to the intensifying conflict in South Sudan.
Since July last year, the security, economic and humanitarian situation has worsened markedly and virtually no part of the country is immune from conflict, Shearer said during a briefing at the Security Council. There has been no concerted effort by any party to adhere to a ceasefire. Instead, over the past month, the conflict has intensified, he regretted.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has increased the robustness of its protection activities, with more patrols to the most conflict-affected areas, he noted.
Despite what appears to be attempts by the parties to achieve victory through military means, the UN official stressed a political solution is the only way forward and that the political process is not dead. Shearer affirmed that the process requires significant resuscitation.
Further, Shearer stressed the need for the international community to speak with one voice in order to create a political will for the parties to end hostilities and build peace.
Leading the meeting, the US Ambassador Nikki Haley, highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in the country and the need for a strong action by the Council to address the conflict and save lives.
She called on the Council and its members to move forward with the tools available to it, such as with further sanctions and an arms embargo, or the violence and the atrocities will continue.
"We must not wait for more deaths, more displacement, and more destruction before we have the courage to act. This is unacceptable. We must see a sign that progress is possible," she added.
Prior to the meeting, the British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told the press they are looking for all of the international community to step up the pressure, one way of doing that is through imposing an arms embargo, another way of doing that is through targeted sanctions. (end) mao.gb