JUBA — South Sudan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Cecilia Adeng Manyok said on Tuesday the world’s youngest would settle political competition through democratic means rather than armed confrontation as the country prepares for general elections scheduled for December.
Addressing the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Adeng, the designated South Sudan Foreign Affairs Minister, said the country’s political journey must now move from years of conflict and transition toward democratic governance.
“The ballot must replace the bullets. South Sudan recognizes that conducting peaceful elections requires security and strong institutions. The government bears the primary responsibility for protecting its citizens, maintaining public order, and safeguarding the electoral process,” Adeng said.
She said the government would work to create conditions that allow the world to once again see South Sudanese as a people who aspire to peace, dignity, democracy, and prosperity.
“For far too long, South Sudan has often been seen internationally through the lens of conflict, humanitarian needs, and political crisis. President Kiir’s vision is to create the condition in which the world can once again see the people of South Sudan for who they truly are,” she said.
“A resilient people who struggled for freedom, voted peacefully for independence, and continue to aspire for peace, dignity, democracy, and prosperity. The people of South Sudan must increasingly speak for themselves, and they must speak through the ballot.”
Adeng said the vote should give South Sudanese an opportunity to choose their leaders democratically.
“Our journey therefore continues from liberation struggle to comprehensive peace agreement, to the referendum, to independence, from conflict to peace, and now from transition towards democratic governance. Mr. President, the message of President Kiir remains clear.”
No return to war
Adeng said South Sudan’s experience of internal conflict after independence should not determine the country’s political future.
She said President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s message remained that South Sudan must not return to war and that political disagreements should be addressed through dialogue.
“South Sudan must not return to war. Political disagreement must be addressed through dialogue. Political competition must never again become armed confrontation,” she said.
Juba calls for lifting of sanctions.
She said the country called for constructive engagements with the Security Council over restrictive measures imposed on South Sudan, including the arms embargo.
“South Sudan’s objective is not militarization. The objective is to develop professional, unified, disciplined, and accountable security forces operating under the civilian authority and the rule of law.”
“South Sudan believes that accountability and national capacity should reinforce themselves. We therefore call for the lifting of all restrictive measures. Sanctions must be instruments for achieving clear, defined objectives.”
