Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage opposition factions in South Sudan led by Riek Machar to form and maintain a unity government; and what protection is provided to such factions by the international community alongside the government of Salva Kiir.

The UK continues to urge all parties to the September 2018 ‘Revitalised Agreement on the Conflict in South Sudan’ to make the progress necessary for a government of national unity to form and to uphold the associated ceasefire. The DFID/FCO Minister for Africa (Andrew Stephenson) wrote to both parties in November to urge them to make such progress for the sake of the people of South Sudan. Following agreement by the parties to extend the ‘pre-transitional’ phase to February 2020 we have welcomed meetings in Juba between President Kiir and opposition leader Dr Machar but call for further dialogue to deliver progress so that a government of national unity can form and for implementation of the next phase of the peace agreement to begin. This messaging was reinforced at the recent UN Security Council on 18 December 2019. Security in Juba and elsewhere in South Sudan is an important part of building the confidence for opposition parties to participate in a government of national unity. Most recently alongside Troika partners (US and Norway) we issued a statement on 2 January urging the parties to engage in a spirit of compromise on outstanding tasks. As a member of the UN Security Council the UK supports the UN Mission In South Sudan (UNMISS), including through the deployment of UK troops. UNMISS plays a crucial role in supporting the peace process and protection of civilians. Security for political figures to participate in government in Juba is critical but part of the wider peace agreement implementation and for the parties to progress.