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Sudan Tribune

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UNMISS chief vows support for political reform in South Sudan

July 8,2013 (JUBA)- The special representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations and the head of UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) pledged commitment and support of the organisation for political reform, a day after president Salva Kiir Mayardit received an open letter from friends highlighting areas of concern and recommendations to rectify the situation.

Hilde F.Johnson made the remark in speech before state United Nations Security Council on July 8th, 2013, during which the top UN official said emerging political differences within the leadership was also becoming another concern hindering efforts to effect for political reforms.

“I, along with the rest of the mission, remain committed to helping the government make progress in pursuing further political reforms, constitution making, improving human rights situation, conduction a population census and democratic elections”, said Johnson.

She, however, pointed out that the country was facing a lot of challenges brought about by the introduction of austerity measures and obsession by the developing security situation. “Burdened by the austerity climate, preoccupied with effort to address the security and challenged by divergences that have emerged within the top echelons of the ruling SPLM, the government has also face difficulties in implementing political reforms and strengthening public institutions”, she said.

She informed the council that institutions crucial to a successful political transition, like the National Elections Commission, require adequate budgetary support from the government to advance their work according to the schedules laid out in the transitional constitution.

Her address followed a release of a strong worded letter in which a group of U.S. activists who helped bring about peace and subsequent secession of the new nation expressed warned that “shocking” human rights abuses and corruption would undermine stability.

The group, known as Friends of South Sudan enjoys great leverage with U.S. policymakers, and have long protected the new nation from being criticised over human rights violations.

But in an open letter to President Salva Kiir and disclosed by the Sudan Tribune on Monday they warned they would no longer be silent about violence by security forces against civilians, critics of the government and journalists.

“We joined you in your fight against these very abuses by the Khartoum regime for many years. We cannot turn a blind eye when yesterday’s victims become today’s perpetrators,” said the American activists.

“This violence is shocking and has included rape, murder, theft and destruction of property.”

Majority poor predominantly elderly people and women with children in the rural and urban town have no access to hospitals, roads, clean drinking water or schools while officials stealing public funds send their children to private schools and hospital abroad to get the best medical and tertiary service. “In a remarkably short period of time, the name of your country has become synonymous with corruption,” the letter obtained by Sudan Tribune reads in part.

Kiir last month suspended two ministers over alleged fraud but critics say such measures are mere window-dressing to address rising criticism from donors. He also wrote last year to 75 current and former officials to ask them to return $4 billion in stolen public money, but has not been followed by any actions, raising doubts of his commitment to fighting corruption.

(ST)

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