ADDIS ABABA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Council of Ministers on Tuesday recalled on South Sudanese factions to respect the recently signed Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA).
"The council is dismayed to learn that in some parts of the Country the violations of the Agreement continued with impunity," the East African block said in a statement on Tuesday.
The IGAD Council of Ministers (CoM), which recalled its previous statement that was issued on January 25 this year regarding serious violations of the agreement, also urged the government of South Sudan and the opposition faction SPLM-IO to undertake the necessary investigation and ensure accountability of violators.
The Council also recalled its demand on the parties involved in South Sudan to provide information of the responsible individuals and groups to Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) within one month from the issuance of the January 25 Statement.
"However, the council notes with regrets that no party has submitted its report to CTSAMM as of the issuance of this Statement," read the statement.
The South Sudanese government and numerous opposition factions had signed the cessation of hostilities agreement in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa in December last year. The agreement was, however, violated soon after it went operational.
"The Council of Ministers, once again, calls on all the Parties to the conflict to fully observe their obligation under the COHA," the statment indicated.
IGAD's CoM also expressed its "firm determination to take appropriate actions on the non-compliance to its Statement."
The second phase of the Revitalization Forum, which was held in February this year in Addis Ababa, was suspended for an undetermined period so as to give warring sides more time to reach conclusive agreement.
The conflict in South Sudan started as a dispute between President Salva Kiir and his ex-deputy Riek Machar but has since fragmented to several sides, which complicated international communities' efforts to achieve peace to the world's youngest nation.
