The Peace and Peace Council (COPS) on Thursday completed a three-day field mission to South Sudan, in line with the Council`s mandate to promote and improve peace and security on the African continent. On the one-year anniversary of the signing of the recent peace agreement in South Sudan, the Security Council today reaffirmed the importance of the pact for lasting peace and stability in the country and called for accelerated progress in its implementation. The perpetrators of these offences cannot go unpunished. The criminal prosecution of those responsible and the reparation of the victims are essential to fulfil the conditions for a lasting peace. The Security Council also has a role to Play and must apply sanctions to punish and put pressure on those who commit such crimes. It is an important deterrent. We call on all parties to work towards the implementation of this agreement and we will continue to support all countries in the region in their efforts to achieve this goal. The fact that the peace pact is politically inclusive and representative – unlike its predecessor, ARCSS – is a necessary condition for its successful implementation. Admittedly, there are still arguments in favour of opposition by certain influential individuals and armed groups – such as dissident groups of certain parties such as the SSOA – to the agreement16, and the importance of the inclusion of the agreement should be welcomed as the basis for continued engagement with non-signatory parties. In terms of scope, the R-ARCSS covers issues relating to governance structures and institutions of the Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU); a permanent ceasefire and security measures for transitional security, humanitarian aid and reconstruction agreements; an agreed framework for managing resources, the economy and the economy; The agreed principles and structures for transitional justice, accountability, reconciliation and healing; The parameters for managing the ongoing constitutional process; creation of the Joint Supervisory and Evaluation Commission (JMEC); and operational procedures and amendments to the agreement.