This week, UN rights chief calls for South Sudan ceasefire, peacekeepers defy military order to shut down base. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) communications minister says EU should sanction Rwanda for war. Regional institutions meet to discuss cooperation for peace in West Africa.
UN Rights Chief Calls for South Sudan Ceasefire, Peacekeepers Defy Military Order to Shut Down Base
On March 10, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk called for a ceasefire amidst continued fighting in South Sudan. Türk said he was horrified by increasing reports of brutal killings of civilians, the destruction and poisoning of key water sources, and new waves of mass displacement.
Türk said, “There must a ceasefire as promptly as possible, to save lives and turn this conflict in the direction of a negotiated solution.”
This development came after on March 9, UN peacekeepers defied a military order to shut down their base in Akobo. Located on the border with Ethiopia, the town is an opposition stronghold where tens of thousands of refugees have fled.
The UN peacekeeping mission in Akobo said it would provide “a protective presence for civilians” in the town. The mission added that it was deeply engaging with national, state, and local stakeholders regarding the order.
South Sudan’s peace agreement is in grave danger. On February 27, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned “We are at a dangerous point, when rising violence is combined with deepening uncertainty over South Sudan’s political trajectory, as the peace agreement comes under severe strain.”
South Sudan’s conflict is between the military, which is loyal to President Salva Kiir, and insurgents believed to be allied with the suspended vice-president Riek Machar. On March 1, at least 169 people were killed in violence in Abiemnom county near the Sudan border.
DRC Communications Minister Says EU Should Sanction Rwanda for War
A week after the United States sanctioned Rwanda’s army, accusing them of supporting the M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), DRC’s communications minister Patrick Muyaya told EU Observer on March 10 that EU foreign ministers should “support” the Trump administration by matching its sanctions against the Rwandan army.
Despite evidence that Rwanda is supporting M23, Rwanda continues to deny this. Rwanda’s government released a statement condemning the US sanctions, calling them unjustified.
Muyaya added that Trump “deserves much more support from the European Union” in order to pressure Rwanda.
Regional Institutions Meet to Discuss Cooperation for Peace in West Africa
A group representatives from regional institutions, including the the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), met this week to discuss strengthening cooperation for peace in West Africa. The meeting was organized by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
Representing KAIPTCH, Zibrim Ayorrogo stressed the need for stronger collaboration between ECOWAS and regional training centers. He said the meeting was a chance to review the memorandum of understanding between ECOWAS and the Centres of Excellence, and find ways to enhance their joint work.
KAIPTCH’s Teresa Krafft reaffirmed Germany’s long-standing partnership with ECOWAS and the region’s training centres.
Meeting participants reflected on the progress achieved under the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance Project, and identified areas where more collaboration could help to tackle regional security threats.
Keywords: Peace, South Sudan, DRC, West Africa, ECOWAS, Africa, East Africa, conflict, conflict resolution
Tara Abhasakun
Tara Abhasakun is Peace News Network (PNN)'s managing editor. She is journalist based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and formerly in Bangkok, Thailand. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
