Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the impact of the harassment and abuse of monitors from the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mission, reported to have been carried out by the South Sudanese National Security Service, near Juba in December 2018.

We strongly condemn the unacceptable harassment and abuse of monitors from the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mission (CTSAMVM) on 18 December 2018. This incident not only constitutes a breach of the 12 September peace agreement, but is also an appalling violation of the human rights of the individuals targeted who are doing an important job in the interests of peace in South Sudan.

Through our bilateral engagement, and as part of the Troika (with the USA and Norway), we have joined the UN, EU and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in publicly condemning this incident in the strongest terms. We urge the Government of South Sudan to conduct a full investigation and hold to account those found responsible. CTSAMVM is a vital monitoring mechanism under the peace agreement and any hindrance in their ability to conduct their operations safely and effectively is a hindrance to the peace process itself.