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UN commends South Sudan on implementation of the peace deal

UN commends South Sudan on implementation of the peace deal

South Sudan

The UN has lauded South Sudan on its implementation of a peace deal aimed at ending conflict in the country with the return of rebel leader Riek Machar to Juba and his swearing in as the First Vice-President.

After a week long delay, Machar arrived in Juba International Airport on Tuesday afternoon. His return to the capital marks a significant step towards bringing stability to the world’s youngest nation.

“The Secretary-General calls for the immediate formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity. He commends the efforts of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) Chairperson former President Festus Mogae and the AU High Representative former President Alpha Oumar Konaré,” read a statement attributable to Ban Ki-moon’s spokesperson.

Ban Ki-moon welcomes Riek Machar's return to Juba &his swearing in as 1st Vice President of #SouthSudan https://t.co/zdB5DfAofo unmissmedia

— UN Spokesperson (UN_Spokesperson) April 26, 2016

Under the terms of a peace agreement signed in August last year, Machar resumes a post he held before his sacking that precipitated the crisis which erupted in December 2013.

“I wish that the security situation would be stabilised in the shortest possible time. Now that we’re just about to form the transitional government of nation and union because the stabilisation of the security will really bring us peace among our population. So this is a challenge and I hope my brother the President sees it the same. I’m also hoping that we would address the challenges of stabilising the economy,” Machar said.

President Salva Kiir said, “This … is to restore the confidence of our people and that of our national partners in our abilities as the leaders of this country to implement the agreement. Now, we must move forward in order to address the the challenges situation by the conflict. We acknowledge that there are unresolved issues related to the agreement but I promise we will equally resolve those matters …”

South Sudan VP Machar says “as long as there is political will”, the nation will overcome all obstacles. #NBS5Things pic.twitter.com/i3OfH0vvFl

— NBS Television (@nbstv) April 27, 2016

The two year conflict in young nation resulted to the deaths of thousands and displacements of more than 2 million people.

According to the UN, the conflict also resulted to economic decline and has left more than half of the South Sudanese population in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

“People’s coping mechanisms are exhausted and, for far too many, survival has become a daunting challenge,” said UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous.

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