Positive developments in South Sudan have 鈥渕oved the country further along the road to sustainable peace,鈥� the top UN official there told Security Council members on Wednesday.
The world鈥檚 youngest nation has been mired in instability and conflict for nearly all the eight years since it gained independence from Sudan.
In 2018 President Kiir and his former Vice-President and long-time political rival, Mr. Machar, signed a peace accord with the hopes that it would end the crisis and improve the lives and safety of millions of South Sudanese. Last month, Mr. Machar was sworn in as first Vice-President, sealing the peace deal at the State House in the capital of Juba.
鈥淥n 15 February, President Salva Kiir 鈥� against the wishes of many of his many supporters 鈥� agreed to a compromise to return South Sudan to its pre-2015 position of 10 states, although he added three administrative areas鈥�, Special Representative and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan () David Shearer told the Council via VTC.
He noted that Mr. Machar had 鈥渁ccepted the challenge to join a transitional government in Juba serving as the country鈥檚 First Vice President 鈥� despite transitional security arrangements not yet in place鈥�.听
With the deadlock broken, five Vice Presidents were subsequently sworn in.听
Mr. Shearer attributed the progress to 鈥渢he political willingness of two men who put the interests of their country first鈥�: President Kiir for making 鈥渁 critical concession鈥�, and Mr. Machar for agreeing to return to the capital.听
鈥淲e often speak of courage in war and battle鈥�, he said. 鈥淏ut peace also requires courage鈥�.听
Impact on the ground
As relief swept the country and ministerial discussions began, the UN envoy said that groups who did not sign on to the 2018 Peace Agreement will return to Rome next week for negotiations.听
Citing an International Organization for Migration () estimate that some 800,000 people had returned since the Peace Agreement was signed, Mr. Shearer assured the Council that 鈥渢he new government can prompt positive change鈥�.
Meanwhile, UNMISS has stepped up its protective presence to build confidence in areas of return and the UN Police (UNPOL) is expanding technical assistance and beginning to co-locate with the National Police Service to enhance policing capabilities.
Noting a change in the protection environment, the UN envoy said that as 鈥渢he ceasefire and the free movement of opposition leaders across South Sudan has lowered the risk of violence鈥�, UNMISS has prioritized peacekeepers to 鈥渉ot spot locations and areas of return鈥�.听
In line with the Peace Agreement, a properly functioning state requires an end to:
- Impunity 鈥� by increasing support to the police and justice chain.
- Corruption 鈥� through financial accountability and transparency.
- Dependency 鈥� through shifting to support programmes that promote self-reliance.
- Exclusion 鈥� to ensure that all South Sudanese are part of the democratic process.
However, he warned that the lack of health and education in rural areas has discouraged returns and must be redressed by humanitarian and development actors, 鈥渋ncluding donors鈥�.
Challenges
Nevertheless, a daunting array of challenges will test the new government鈥檚 unity.听
鈥淢ost urgent is the need to move on the transitional security arrangements鈥�, the听听chief said, pointing out that pre-transitional structures have become redundant and 鈥渋mplementation is dangerously lagging鈥�.
And precarious humanitarian situations exist in many states.
鈥淭he anticipated improvement in harvest levels 12 months ago was quashed by the extensive flooding last year鈥�,听 he explained,听adding that crops were destroyed, livestock lost and water supplies contaminated, 鈥渨orsening health conditions, particularly for children and those people who have sparse access to health services鈥�. 听It has also contributed to communal violence between pastoralists.听
While the threat of damage from locusts has yet to have a substantial impact, he updated that the UN agriculture agency,听听, is 鈥済earing up its preparations to spray to protect crops鈥�.
Sometimes 鈥渏ust鈥� being there makes all the difference. Residents of the Tonj region in know. After weeks of immobility and insecurity caused by intercommunal clashes, the presence of peacekeepers is having a positive impact:
鈥� UNMISS (@unmissmedia)
Moving forward
As the UN mission is due for renewal, Mr. Shearer acknowledged that it would be premature to propose a significant change in its mandate, but with the improved mobility of peacekeepers, 鈥減lans are in place鈥� to increase 鈥渞iverine and air support, particularly during the rainy season鈥�.听
There will also be an expansion in UNPOL鈥檚 role and Rule of Law unit 鈥渢o better tackle impunity and support the shift to civilian law enforcement and accountability鈥�.听
While the international community may feel cautious in moving forward, the UN envoy stressed that we cannot 鈥渢otally step back to wait to see what happens before making a commitment鈥�.听
鈥淥ur actions can push South Sudan further toward sustainable peace; our inaction can help condemn it to failure鈥�, he spelled out.听
鈥淚nternational partners must remain engaged 鈥� both in solidarity and, at times, with pressure 鈥� to encourage compromise to achieve and maintain the unity鈥�, concluded the Special Representative. 鈥淪outh Sudan鈥檚 future depends on it鈥�.听
Women鈥檚 involvement
On behalf of women and civil society, Betty Sunday, Coordinator of the Women's Monthly Forum on Peace and Political Processes in South Sudan, advocated for the recognition of the role that women鈥檚 groups played in building peace and argued that more women be involved in the political process.
鈥淪outh Sudanese women have fought hard鈥� for peace, yet 鈥渨e are still far from achieving the 35 per cent quota for women in the transitional government body鈥�, she said, providing, as an example, that a list of governors under consideration for office 鈥渄id not include a single woman鈥�.听
鈥淭his young nation of ours will only achieve a full peace through the meaningful participation of women and women-led organizations鈥�, she affirmed, calling on the Council 鈥渢o stand with us鈥�.
