The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 515th meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 13 June 2015, at the level of Heads of State and Government, adopted the following decision on the situation in South Sudan:
Council,
Takes note of the report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the situation in South Sudan [PSC/AHG/2(DXV)], as well as of the update provided by the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn of Ethiopia, on the IGAD-led mediation efforts and the statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Sudan. Council also takes note of the statement made by the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN);
Reaffirms all its earlier communiqués and press statements on the situation in South Sudan, including communiqué PSC/AHG/COMM.1 (CDLXXXIV) adopted at its 484th meeting held at the level of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, on 29 January 2015; press statement PSC/PR/BR.1 (CDXCIV), adopted at its 494th meeting held in Addis Ababa, on 24 March 2015; and press statement PSC/PR/BR.(DX), adopted at its 510th meeting, held in Swakopmund, Namibia, on 22 May 2015;
Reiterates the AU’s deep concern at the prevailing situation on the ground, marked by continued fighting and attacks against civilians, as well as by a dire humanitarian crisis, including forced displacement, acute food insecurity, access restrictions and other impediments to humanitarian assistance;
Strongly condemns all the ceasefire violations committed by the parties, as reported by the IGAD Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (MVM), as well as the attacks and other egregious acts of violence and abuses of human rights against civilians, including during the fighting in Upper Nile and Unity States in the months of April and May 2015.
Council further condemns in the strongest terms the attacks and other acts of violence and harassment targeting the humanitarian agencies and their personnel and assets. Council commends the humanitarian agencies for their continued assistance to the affected populations and, once again, urges all concerned actors to fully cooperate with them;Also strongly condemns all restrictions and other acts obstructing the implementation of the mandates of the MVM and the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Council reiterates its full support to the MVM and UNMISS, and demands that the belligerents extend full cooperation to them to facilitate the discharge of their respective mandates;