JUBA, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan peace monitors on Monday called on warring parties to respect the ceasefire agreement inked in Ethiopia late December.
Festus Mogae, Chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), also demanded all parties fully respect and comply with the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access.
Mogae called on warring factions that have been fueling conflict in South Sudan to fulfill their obligations to the international truce monitoring body, the Ceasefire Transitional Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM).
"CTSAMM has and will continue to report any verified violations of the ceasefire, either in terms of specific acts of violence, military movement or any other actions that contravene the terms of the Agreement. Where necessary and where proven, CTSAMM apportions blame and responsibility as appropriate," he said in a statement issued in Juba.
The ceasefire agreement signed between the South Sudanese government and several rebel groups calls on the warring parties to stop military operations and keep forces in their bases while calling for release of political detainees and child soldiers.
But it was broken immediately after it took effect on Dec. 24 last year and both sides have been blaming each other for the violations.
South Sudan's armed actors had previously violated several ceasefire deals since the conflict erupted four years ago.
Mogae said CTSAMM teams are the direct representatives of the regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the wider international community in South Sudan and as such they must command the parties' total cooperation.
The former Botswana leader said CTSAMM is actively monitoring and investigating a number of incidents and movements around the country.
"It remains the responsibility of all parties signatory to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement to uphold their obligations to ensure unrestricted access to CTSAMM ceasefire monitors so that they can accurately and speedily report on the situation around the country," he said.
South Sudan has been embroiled in four years of conflict that has taken a devastating toll on the people, creating one of the fastest-growing refugee crisis in the world.
A peace deal signed in August 2015 between the rival leaders under UN pressure led to the establishment of a transitional unity government in April, but was shattered by renewed fighting in July 2016.
