UN stresses ‘urgency’ in South Sudan to implement peace agreement measures

The head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom, held his first press conference of the year on Friday, in which he stressed the "urgency" in the African country to implement the measures set out in the peace agreements, which include the holding of elections in 2024.

"This year is particularly important for South Sudan and its people. I know we say it every year, but this year will really determine whether the transition to peace, outlined in the roadmap, can actually be achieved," the UN official told the press.

Haysom acknowledged that several key milestones in the implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement have been reached to date but that "it will be crucial for South Sudan to meet all of its critical benchmarks," so next year will require "a sense of urgency."

The peace agreement was signed in 2018, which was supposed to end the civil war that began in 2013, but as of today it is long overdue. In this regard, the elections that were scheduled for December last year have been postponed for two years, while the humanitarian crisis in the country worsens.

Similarly, Haysom held a meeting this week with the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, with the aim of accelerating the implementation of the pending points of the agreement. Among the points discussed would be the drafting of the constitution, the inter-communal clashes in some parts of the country and the unification of the army, "in order to create an atmosphere conducive to the holding of free, fair and credible elections in December 2024," Haysom said.

The humanitarian emergency in South Sudan remains acute, worsened by conflict, climatic shocks and heavy flooding. According to UN figures, more than 9 million people will be in need of humanitarian assistance and protection by 2023, an alarming figure for a country of some 12 million people.

Source: (EUROPA PRESS)