The European Union wants the African Union to publish the findings of an investigation into human rights violations in South Sudan as a way of stopping further bloodshed.
EU spokesperson Catherine Ray on Thursday said making the findings public would discourage more killings by holding perpetrators to account.
"The EU believes that publication of the Commission of Inquiry's findings and its recommendations on accountability are necessary to ensure that such violence against civilians cannot be undertaken with impunity," she said in a statement from Brussels, Belgium.
The report, prepared by a team led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and known as the Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan to the AU Peace and Security Council, was meant to be tabled before the 24th African Union Summit last week.
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
The commission was formed in December 2013 shortly after the conflict broke out in order to "investigate the human rights violations and other abuses committed during the armed conflict in South Sudan and make recommendations on the best ways and means to ensure accountability, reconciliation and healing among all South Sudanese communities."
However, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn moved a motion to defer its publication by arguing it could jeopardise peace efforts.
But the EU, which is one of the sponsors of peace talks led by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad), said there had been "little significant progress towards a comprehensive peace agreement in South Sudan".
"It is essential the current negotiations are completed no later than March 5. The EU supports the IGAD-led process and encourages a closer involvement of the international community."
CEASEFIRE DEAL
The new comments by the EU could amount to pressure to have warring South Sudan leaders, President Salva Kiir and his nemesis Riek Machar, reach a long-term deal soon.
On February 3, the two signed a new ceasefire agreement, the sixth since the conflict broke out in December 2013.
Previous ceasefire agreements were violated within days, forcing Igad to threaten sanctions it never implemented.
When the AU report was postponed last week, the South Sudan Law Society (SSLS) said witnesses had been betrayed.
"Many South Sudanese provided information to the AUCISS (African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan) at great personal risk and to not publish the report would be a disservice to those who provided testimony," argued David Deng, a research director at SSLS.
"Waiting to publish the AUCISS report until after a peace agreement is concluded effectively negates its ability to contribute to sustainable peace in South Sudan."
ARUSHA TALKS
The EU said it "encourages a closer involvement of the international community."
"Despite considerable efforts by the IGAD mediation and the apparently successful outcome of the Arusha talks between SPLM factions, the agreement signed in Addis Ababa on February 2 between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar has made little significant progress towards a comprehensive peace agreement in South Sudan," Ms Ray said.
"Leaders of all groups and parties should go beyond short-term interests and build on the initial talks to make the necessary compromises for peace, for the benefit of all the people of South Sudan," she added.
Igad is a regional bloc composed of Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti and Uganda.
At least 15,000 people have been killed and two million displaced since the violence in South Sudan began on December 16, 2013.