Written question asked by Earl of Sandwich (Crossbench) on Wednesday, 20 December 2017, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 January 2018. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Monday, 8 January 2018 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

South Sudan: Peace Negotiations

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the ability of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to secure a peace agreement in South Sudan; and what assessment they have made of potential alternatives for seeking peace involving the Troika or independent experts.

Answer: We strongly support the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)’s initiative to revitalise the 2015 Peace Agreement. It is the regional countries who have most ability to influence the South Sudanese to bring an end to the conflict. We are working closely with them and the wider international community to support this. The High Level Revitalisation Forum is a critical opportunity and the most viable initiative to bring all the parties to the conflict round the table. The first priority has been the negotiation of a cessation of hostilities amongst a broad range of armed actors, which has been agreed. We warmly welcome this step and call on all parties to adhere to the agreement.

We continue to work very closely with the US and Norway (our Troika partners) and engage with independent experts to consider how we can best support South Sudan’s process towards peace. We currently assess that IGAD’s revitalisation forum is the best chance that South Sudan has for peace.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL4379
Session: 2017-19
Subjects: Peace negotiations Intergovernmental Authority on Development South Sudan
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk