The statement came on the fourth anniversary of the independence of South Sudan, which was officially declared on July 9, 2011, following a referendum in which around 99 percent of the southerners voted for its secession from Sudan. So many civilian men, women and children have suffered, and so many been displaced both internally and externally.

Reaffirming that such acts will not be tolerated, the Council renewed its grave alarm at the 19 months of violence in South Sudan and the resulting man-made political, security, humanitarian and economic catastrophe.

“Sudan renews its call for South Sudan rivals to resume negotiations according to the roadmap presented by the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development in Africa (IGAD)”, Sudan’s Oil Minister Mohamed Zayed Awad said when addressing a ceremony organized by South Sudan Embassy in Khartoum on the occasion of the South’s fourth Independence anniversary.

The Leader of the Minority in the National Legislative Assembly Onyoti Adigo says it is unfortunate that opposition political party leaders were not given a formal place in the protocol at the 9 July celebrations, claiming they were not even invited.

In light of the significant deterioration of the situation, the members of the Security Council underscored the urgent and imperative need to end impunity and ensuring accountability.

“We hope the South Sudan rivals would stop the war and work to reach a comprehensive peace and security for South Sudan’s people”, he noted. The hostilities subsequently turned into a full-fledged conflict, resulting in reported atrocities and possible war crimes. “You see thousands of people here who are not all SPLM”.