JUBA — The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Thursday called on South Sudanese parties to step up efforts to fully implement the 2018 peace agreement in a bid to restore peace.
Speaking during the commemoration of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers in Juba, Guang Cong, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Political), urged parties to accelerate efforts to implement the peace agreement.
“We, together with our regional and international partners, urge parties to the peace agreement to resolve tensions through dialogue, build trust and confidence, secure a cessation of hostilities, and take the necessary steps to fully implement the peace agreement,” Guang said.
Guang stated that as an impartial partner, the role of UNMISS is to support all parties involved in the transformation of the country.
“Despite these obstacles, the people of South Sudan continue to demonstrate extraordinary patience, resilience, and determination. We are inspired by their unrelenting passion for peace.”
For his part, Akuei Bona Malwal, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, stressed the need to embrace peace.
“Peace Begins with Me is really appropriate, especially considering what is going on in the world, and if we actually embraced that theme, Peace Begins with Me, perhaps the world would be a better place,” said Bona.
South Sudan is grappling with a deteriorating political and security situation that risks plunging the country back into war.
Military confrontations and intercommunal conflict continue to plague parts of the country.
The implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement is stagnating, despite its criticality in progressing the transition towards the country’s first democratic elections, and 9.3 million people need humanitarian aid at a time when funding is stretched to breaking point.
