One year on from the signing of a Revitalized Agreement to ease conflict in South Sudan, the country鈥檚 political leaders 鈥渉ave met some, but certainly not all鈥�, of the expectations laid out, the top 缅北禁地official for the country told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Briefing the Council in New York, Special Representative and head of the 缅北禁地Mission in South Sudan (), David Shearer, explained developments and downfalls he鈥檚 witnessed since the official peace ceremony last year.
Pesident Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar, entered into a peace accord last September, which would see him return as Vice President, in a move to end the country鈥檚 brutal six-year civil war 鈥� the result of on-going clashes between opposing party loyalists in 2013.
Mr. Shearer said Mr. Machar鈥檚 visit to the capital Juba last week, at the invitation of President Kiir, 鈥渨as an important development鈥�, noting the apparent 鈥渃onciliatory鈥� demeanor between the two forces who spent 鈥渟everal hours in formal and informal discussions.鈥�
鈥淭hese meetings need to continue鈥�, he stressed.
鈥楥autious optimism鈥�
A positive outcome of the meeting was the renewed commitment to forming a transitional government, he said, which 鈥渕aintains the momentum of peace and bolsters confidence among South Sudanese.鈥�
However, the citizens of what is the world鈥檚 youngest nation, are proceeding with 鈥渃autious optimism鈥�, the Secretary-General鈥檚 latest report on听听states.
As a ceasefire has continued in most parts of the country, more internally displaced persons are expressing a willingness to return home. Yet, 鈥渟everal impediments exist, including uncertainty about the peace process,鈥� the peace plan highlights.
Mr. Shearer said the challenge of receiving 鈥渢angible results鈥� towards a lasting peace, still remains and highlighted the need for progress in three areas: Unification of security forces; political consensus on the number of states and boundaries; and finalizing leadership details of the transitional government.
The Mission chief praised the positive outcomes so far, including diminishing cases of displacement, improvements in food security and commitment to security at the grassroots level.
If more people can return home, food and farming productivity can also pick up, Mr. Shearer said. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, South Sudan鈥檚 cereal production has increased by 150,000 metric tonnes in the last year, 鈥渁n indication of what peace can provide.鈥�
鈥淪till, some 6.3 million people 鈥� or 54 percent of the population 鈥� remain food insecure and have limited access to healthcare. And we鈥檝e also noted, that child malnutrition in the short term, has also increased鈥�, he lamented, though 鈥渟everity maps鈥� from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification听听show a trend in 鈥渂ecoming more orange and yellow, rather than red.鈥�
In terms of getting people help on the ground, access is 鈥渋mproving鈥� Mr. Shearer reported, adding that incidents are down 30 per cent from last year, which has 鈥渆mboldened humanitarians to plan greater outreach to more remote areas.鈥�
Stimulating the peace process, 鈥榠mproving lives鈥�
UNMISS is doing its part to rebalance deployment of peacekeepers, 鈥渕oving away from static protection鈥o increase confidence building patrols in areas where people will be returning to鈥�, he said.
鈥淗owever, the Government must take the lead鈥� when it comes to creating a climate of safety for its people.
Mr. Shearer stressed that 鈥渁 South Sudan that is truly at peace will no longer need 缅北禁地protection sites.鈥�
Looking forward, he underscored the pivotal role of national elections in the years ahead, stressing that the new Transitional Government 鈥減rovides an opportunity to lift our gaze from immediate challenges,鈥� and see the official change in Government as a chance to resolve conflict by 鈥渄emocratic rather than violent means.鈥�
The political space should address the country鈥檚 lack of transparency when it comes to oil revenue spending, unpaid soldiers, and delayed pay for civil servants.
鈥淭he bottom line is this. While the situation for many South Sudanese citizens remains bleak, the last year of peace has kick-started a transformative process that is improving lives,鈥� Mr. Shearer concluded.
He recounted personally witnessing 鈥渇ormer enemies, once committed to killing each other, sitting amicable across the table planning a future together.鈥�
If South Sudan鈥檚 officials 鈥渆very needed inspiration to reconcile and work in the country鈥檚 best interests, they can find it under trees and in tukuls where communities are coming together to build peace,鈥� he said.
Attesting to work by UNMISS alongside local communities, Mr. Shearer said, 鈥淚 promise you鈥� work is being done 鈥渢o lay strong foundations so that peace is sustained.鈥�
鈥淭he peace process remains precarious, but progress is being made,鈥� the special representative encouraged.
