JUBA, South Sudan
The head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan
(UNMISS) has called to support the peace implementation process stressing that
doubts should be put aside and to give South Sudanese leaders a chance.
UNMISS chief David Shearer |
In a video briefing from Juba to the UN Security
Council on Wednesday 4 March, UNMISS chief David Shearer hailed the decision of
President Salva Kiir to revert to the ten states saying he did it "against
the wishes of many of his many supporters".
He also praised the courageous decision of the
First Vice-President Riek Machar for his return to Juba 'despite
transitional security arrangements not yet in place'.
"The progress is attributable to the political
willingness of two men who put the interests of their country first," he
stressed.
However, he said the national unity government is
facing daunting challenges that require the support of the international
community and the inaction may contribute to the peace implementation process.
"The doubters telling us we have been here
before. But It’s also important to acknowledge these are changed
circumstances," he said.
"The international community will likely lean
on the side of caution wary of repeating past mistakes. That’s fair. But
neither can we totally step back to wait to see what happens before making a
commitment".
"Our actions can push South Sudan further
toward sustainable peace; our inaction can help condemn it to failure".
The strong call for international support to the
national unity government and the implementation of the revitalized peace pact
follows statements on 27 February by a senior State Department official who
said they prefer to verify first how the peace partners will work.
"So everyone’s looking to see: Will this new
unity government work? Will it remain an inclusive and unified government? What
will their work habits be?" He said before adding they want to be certain
the peace partners "work collaboratively".
The Troika countries and Washington particularly
refused to contribute to the funding of the implementation of the security
arrangements in the past saying that Juba should use of oil income.
Shearer’s speech recalls the calls for support for
the revitalized peace agreement by the former UN special envoy for South Sudan
Nicholas Haysom who struggled to convince the international community to back
its implementation and the security arrangements particularly.
Shearer in his speech identified some areas that
require immediate support pointing to the lack of means to implement the costly
process of the national army formation, and the precarious humanitarian
situation caused by a combination of three factors: floods, locusts and tribal
violence.
The South Sudanese Ambassador to the United
NationsAkuei Bona Malwal, for his part, welcomed the latest report of the UN
Secretary-General report and indicated that the president and his first vice
president are holding discussions "on how to divide the ministerial
portfolios equitably".
"And, Mr President, the people of South
Sudan are on standby to hear the imminent announcement of the new cabinet of
national unity any time from now," he added.
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