Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the political and security situation in South Sudan and, in particular, the impact on the peace process of the reported attempt to oust Vice President Riek Machar.

South Sudan remains one of the world's most fragile states, with 7.2 million people facing acute food insecurity and high levels of sub-national violence. The full and inclusive implementation of the 2018 Peace Agreement remains South Sudan's best chance for sustainable peace and stability and recent progress, such as the formation of a new national legislature is welcome. Overall implementation however, is slow and inconsistent: important tasks such as the unification of armed forces have been significantly delayed, contributing to increased instability and a worsening humanitarian situation.

This slow and partial implementation of the Peace Agreement has generated discontent among several parities in recent months. This includes a split within the Sudan People's Liberation Movement 'In Opposition' (SPLM-IO) but 1st Vice President Riek Machar remains in post. In a Troika statement (with Norway and the US) on 13 August we called for all parties to abide by the Peace Agreement, for signatories to show a greater sense of unity, and for an end to the fostering of divisions and splits that risk further delays to the peace process and violence. Where there are legitimate grievances, however, we have made clear that it is important for voices to be heard and for freedom of expression to be protected.