UN boss urges S. Sudan leaders to compromise for peace

October 7, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudanese political leaders should make the necessary compromise for peace in order to end the nearly 10-month conflict in the country, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General (SRSG) to the young nation said on Tuesday.

Ellen Margrethe Loej made the appeal at her first news conference since she was appointed in July to head the UN mission in the county (UNMISS).

“Progress on the peace talks appear to be taking longer that we all hoped and prayed for and which we believe the people of South Sudan deserve,” she said.

“The sooner the guns are silent, the quicker can both the mission and aid agencies focus on assisting South Sudanese people in building and developing this new nation,” added the senior UN official.

Loej said it was important to improve the seemingly poor relations between the UN and South Sudan government, citing the need for fruitful interactions and constructive dialogue.

“As head of UNMISS, I am determined, through our commitment and close cooperation with the people of South Sudan and its government, to do our best to contribute to a peaceful and hopefully prosperous future for the people of South Sudan,” Loej told reporters in the capital, Juba.

She described her one-month tenure at the helm of UNMISS as an “informative and learning experience”, stressing that the mission would focus on its mandate as clearly stipulated by the Security Council resolution.

“UNMISS responsibility for protection of civilians extends to all parts of this huge country where people need protection,” said Loej.

“We are determined, within the limits of our resources, to establish a presence in areas of need,” she added.

CIVILIAN PROTECTION

The UN Security Council, earlier this year, extended the mandate of UNMISS until 30 November 2014, and authorised it to use “all necessary means” to protect civilians, monitor and investigate human rights, create the conditions for delivery of humanitarian assistance, and support the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement.

The new UNMISS chief acknowledged challenges that existed in the young nation, but said addressing them would require cooperation and support from all the parties in the country.

“The challenges in South Sudan are great. These challenges are both internal and external. For the mission to implement our mandate requires cooperation and support by all parties in South Sudan,” she said.

With over 1.8 million South Sudanese said to have fled their homes because of the conflict that began in mid-December 2013, over 1.4 million remain displaced within the country, the UN says. Most of them are reportedly sheltering in remote and hard-to-reach areas while an estimated 96,000 civilians continue to receive shelter at UN compounds.

Aid agencies early this week warned of looming famine in 2015 if the conflict remains unresolved.

(ST)