South Sudan faces new obstacles to implement peace deal – UN Envoy

JUBA – South Sudan continues to face many obstacles to sustainable peace, including the lack of a unified security force, pervasive insecurity related to inter-communal conflict and opportunistic crime driven by economic deprivation, said Nicholas Haysom, newly-appointed United Nations envoy for South Sudan.

“It is important that these issues are addressed through the full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement which provides a credible framework for bringing durable peace,” said Haysom said in his speech ahead of the 10th anniversary of South Sudan’s historic achievement of independence.

Haysom added that “As part of the international effort, UNMISS has made a significant contribution working alongside the people of South Sudan as a partner for peace.”

He said that the 10th anniversary of independence will provide an important opportunity to inject fresh momentum into the peace process to deliver the stability, peace, and prosperity that citizens deserve.

“Tomorrow, we celebrate this important occasion alongside the people of South Sudan who fought long and hard for their independence and endured great suffering to secure a better life for themselves and future generations,” he said.

He urged the country’s political leaders to double their efforts toward sustainable peace to enable full recovery and development.

“We also urge the country’s political leaders to seize this opportunity to make the hopes and dreams of a decade ago a reality by securing the sustainable peace needed to enable full recovery and development,” he said.

Significant progress has been made since the signing of the 2018 peace deal, including the formation of a transition government, reconstitution of the national legislature, and the convening of a constitution-making process.

However, the implementation of the revitalized agreement is slow, and peace remains fragile.

“The journey from war to peace has been a long and difficult one and there is still much to be done so that people can exercise the democratic right they earned a decade ago,” he said.