Protecting civilians in S. Sudan is UN’s key priority – envoy
By Julius N. Uma
November 3, 2011 (JUBA) — The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) remains committed to its strong protection of civilian mandate in line with Chapter seven of the Security Council’s resolution 1996 (2011), said Hilde F. Johnson, the Special Representative to the UN Secretary General (SRSG) yesterday.
“In South Sudan, we’re not talking about re-construction,” she said, “we’re talking about construction. Clearly, as a new and independent country, the government needs all the help it can get to ensure that stability and peace prevail and it can be established on a very solid footing.”
South Sudan, which recently joined UN as its 193rd member country remains prone to waves of insecurity problems, mainly caused by rebel groups fighting the government. The south has often accused the north of supporting these militias, an allegation that Khartoum establishment repeatedly denies.
The SRSG, however, said the UN mission made remarkable achievement in integrating rebel groups and renegade militias that had decided to reintegrate and return, citing south-based rebels led by David Yau Yau, the late Gatluak Gai and Peter Gatdet, which have either been integrated or were in the process of being integrated over the last three months.
She further said all efforts are underway to ensure that those rebel forces still fighting the southern government benefit from the open amnesty extended by South Sudan President Salva Kiir, without any repercussions.
According to Johnson, the UN in collaboration with the South Sudanese government has adopted a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach aimed at preventing any retaliatory attack among the communities, through facilitating churches to conduct reconciliation processes among the population.
On the legislature, the SRSG lauded the southern leadership for the establishment of the national legislative assembly and the council of states, describing it as critical ‘intervention’ towards enhancing promotion of justice and the rule of law.
The UNMISS head, however, urged the government to expedite the enactment of the country’s Political Parties Act and the Electoral Act, which she said, were vital in strengthening and developing the country’s democratic institutions.
Asked about the north-south relations, Johnson said it was important for the two neighbours to amicably resolve all outstanding issues between the two.
“For South Sudan to retain its stability and for peace and security to prevail, it is very important that its relations with its neighbour in the north is peaceful and that all the challenges that are still on the table are addressed in a peaceful manner where the remaining CPA [comprehensive peace agreement] issues and separation
issues are finalised and completed with agreement between the two parties,” she reaffirmed.
(ST)