Ugandan Forces in South Sudan Must Leave Now!

Press Release

Victoria, January 31, 2014 (SSNA) — The South Sudan Crisis Management and Advocacy Group (SSCM & AG) has organised this demonstration to inform the world of the current crisis that resulted in mass killing of innocent people, displacement of millions of people and destruction of properties in South Sudan. The event happened on 15 December 2013 in Juba, the Capital of the Republic of South Sudan, after the government falsely accused its opposition of mounting a coup and has since then spread to all parties of the country.

We the South Sudanese Australian have deeply been affected by this incident and we are therefore calling on Australian Government, United States, IGAD and the rest of International Community to enforce the following safe lives of innocent South Sudanese:

1. Ugandan Forces in South Sudan must leave now

We strongly condemn in strongest term possible the present of Ugandan Forces in South Sudan:

• The present of Ugandan troops in South Sudan under minds the national sovereignty of South Sudan
• The Present of Ugandan Forces in South Sudan is an invasion of the territory of the Republic of South Sudan
• The present of Ugandan Forces in South Sudan is has been contributing negatively to peaceful resettlement of the current conflict
• The present of Ugandan Troops in South Sudan only intensify the division of tribes in South Sudan and would continue to do so if the world remains silence
• The present of Ugandan Troops in South Sudan under minds its legitimacy as a member of IGAD and indeed fosters a negative role modelling to African affairs

2. Release of Political Detainees

We are calling for an immediate release of the political detainees because:

• The detainees are the most important parties to peaceful settlement of the current conflict in South Sudan
• The present of detainees in the conflict resolution will contribute to positive outcomes of the future unity and reconciliation in South Sudan
• Failure to release political detainees may well resulted in their tribal men, relatives and friends to take up arms and escalate the conflict further

3. Respect for ceasefire

We are rallying today to inform the world that the government of South Sudan has breached the ceasefire signed on 23 January 2014. Today we are urging IGAD and the world to strongly warn the two parties to:

• Respect the ceasefire
• Both parties must stop killing innocent people
• Both parties must allow humanitarian corridors to all areas freely
• IGAD must impose consequences on any party that breaches the ceasefire.

We are also urging the Australian Government to pressure the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and those in opposition to respect the ceasefire, release political detainees and allow free access to humanitarian corridors al all affected areas in South Sudan.

Regards,

Signed by: South Sudan Crisis Management and Advocacy Group (SSCM & AG)