Press Release Nº188/2015

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 14 August 2015: The humanitarian situation in South Sudan remains of great concern to the African Union Commission Chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. She reiterated her worry on the humanitarian situation when she met with the United States Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Donald Booth, on 14 August 2015, at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“For people to die of hunger is demeaning, and to have their bodies eaten up by vultures after suffering a horrible death, is just awful.” Dr. Dlamini Zuma expressed her dismay to find out that food is being utilised as a weapon. She calls on the leaders of South Sudan to show compassion their people.

Fully engaged in the current state of affairs in South Sudan, Dr. Dlamini Zuma urges the South Sudanese urgently stop the violence and end the suffering of its people.

The AU Commission Chairperson and the visiting U.S Envoy exchanged on the negotiation lead to arrive at a final agreement between the South Sudanese protagonists, expected on 17 August 2015.

Apart from discussing the humanitarian situation, Mr. Donald Booth briefed Dr. Dlamini Zuma on his meetings and engagements with the South Sudanese authorities, particularly following the meeting held on the margins of President Barack Obama’s visit to Ethiopia on 27 July 2015.

They also discussed the report of the AU’s Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan, which is at the moment under the consideration by the AU Peace and Security Council.

TF/JEE