U.S. says “there is a second chance” for development in South Sudan
April 27, 2016 (JUBA) – The United States Ambassador to South Sudan, Catherin Molly Phee, said the return of the opposition leader, Riek Machar, to Juba will end the suffering of the people created by the conflict and usher in a second chance to the country.
The U.S. diplomat lamented that so many people have died as a result of the 21 months old war in the country, but added their lives can be rebuilt through implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement signed by South Sudanese leaders.
“Too many people have died outside their homes or even outside the country because of war and insecurity and now the terrible problems with the economy,” partly reads Phee’s statement on Tuesday.
“So it is not a day for jubilation that we saw, let’s say, in 2005 and in 2011, but it is a day for South Sudanese to be grateful that they have a second chance,” she added.
SPLM in Opposition chairman, Machar, returned to Juba on Tuesday and took oath of office as first vice president and will, together with President Salva Kiir, form the transitional government of national unity according to the peace agreement signed 8 months ago.
Machar will have a separate army for at least one and a half years and 10 cabinet ministers in the 30 ministerial posts for 30 months.
Without mentioning by name both President Kiir and first vice president Machar, the U.S diplomat said the two leaders have a duty to move the country forward.
“They can start again and have a unified country that can develop and bring prosperity and safety for all of its citizens,” she said.
Ambassador Phee applauded President Kiir’s Tuesday apology to South Sudanese and his “personal efforts to work with the first vice president.”
Phee however said the war has created many challenges that will take time to resolve.
“So, we ask for the patience to work together to fix your problems. You have a great future in front of you. It won’t be realized tomorrow. But if you work hard and take the second chance – and that is the responsibility of every citizen in South Sudan to take the second chance – I am confident you will succeed,” she said.
Reconciliation, she said, must come from the “hearts” of the people of South Sudan, also adding that great traditional, church and mosque leaders can help in the process.
“We, the United States, are supporting the South Sudan Council of Churches to work on reconciliation and I think you should follow the example of your leaders in reconciliation,” she added.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) provided $6 million for national peace center in Juba in March. Separately, USAID provided $1.5 billion for humanitarian assistance since the conflict began.
It has recently announced another amount of $86 million towards humanitarian intervention in South Sudan.
(ST)