Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the risk of a generalised breakdown of the 2018 peace deal in South Sudan; and what recent steps she has taken to support conflict resolution efforts in that country.

There have been recent reports of violence in South Sudan, including clashes between the two main Parties to the 2018 Peace Agreement. For now the Parties have stated that they remain committed to peace, but there remains a risk of miscalculation and further violence. On 23 March I [Minister Ford] urged all parties to de-escalate, condemning the violence and calling on the Government of South Sudan to exercise leadership and oversight of the nation's security forces. With our international partners we continue to deliver these messages and press the Parties to deliver their commitments. Through our Embassies and High Commissions we will also encourage the region, as guarantors of the Peace Agreement, to use their influence with the Parties to deliver peace.