S/PV.6938 Security Council

Under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of South Sudan to participate in this meeting. Under rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Ms. Hilde Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2013/140, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in South Sudan South Sudan. I now give the floor to Ms. Johnson. Ms. Johnson: I thank you, Sir, for this opportunity to brief the Council today. I would like to briefly revisit the main elements of the report of the Secretary- General before the Council today (S/2013/140) and then focus my remarks on the most recent operational developments, as well as key political considerations related to mandate implementation. Since my last briefing to the Council by videoconference on 28 November last year, South Sudan’s transition towards a stable, viable State continued at an uneven pace. During the period covered by the report, South Sudan continued to face multiple challenges, while progress was achieved in some areas. Relations with the Sudan remained tense, although the 8, 12 and 19 March agreements on the implementation of the 27 September Cooperation Agreements could significantly improve the situation in the coming months. An easing of some of the economic austerity measures, with a restart of oil production, would definitely help create an environment conducive to progress on other crucial political and security issues. Internal security challenges, in particular intercommunal violence in several areas and the activities of armed groups in Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity states, continue to be a source of instability and pose grave threats to the civilian population. Land disputes also remain a potential source of insecurity in the country. Recent spates of violence in Jonglei and Western Bahr el-Ghazal states have further highlighted the importance of the protection of civilians mandate assigned to the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS). In Western Bahr el-Ghazal, some 5,000 civilians fleeing from intercommunal violence in Wau, in December, sought refuge in the UNMISS camp. Similarly, in Pibor county, Jonglei state, hundreds of civilians sought protection in UNMISS bases on many occasions when there were clashes between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and armed groups. The largest numbers were around 3,000 on 27 January and 1,800 on 6 March. It is important to note that, while the Pibor County Commissioner had designated a safe area where he said the SPLA would protect civilians, the population chose to come to the two UNMISS bases in the town. We have just received a message today about a similar message in Gumuruk, south of Pibor, where civilians also sought refuge with our contingents. The situation in Jonglei state remains a source of major concern and presents complex challenges for both UNMISS and the Government. The Government remains committed to finding a peaceful solution to the threat posed by David Yau Yau’s armed group, but has made it clear that the window for dialogue is closing and that military operations may soon be launched. Although the Government is committed to doign its utmost to protect civilians during such operations, the civilian population can be at risk from being caught in the crossfire. We have stressed that any military response to insecurity must secure the protection of civilians, in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law. Another source of concern is the intercommunal tension created by the 8 February deadly attack on a Lou Nuer community in the Walgak area, which was migrating to a dry season grazing area. The deadly attack, allegedly perpetrated by armed youth from the Murle community, resulted in the killing of over 100 civilians and a number of escorting SPLA troops. Local and political leaders, including the Vice-President and several ministers who visited the area, have been engaged in efforts to convince the Lou Nuer youth not to resort to revenge attacks but to allow the SPLA and the police to address the problem. In the meantime, UNMISS has conducted a human rights investigation into the Wangar attack. A report into its findings will be published later this month. UNMISS has developed contingency plans for possible Jonglei state scenarios. The Mission has strengthened its troop presence and increased the number of integrated civilian-military patrols to identify the locations of potential attacks, and continues to engage the vulnerable communities and support efforts to find a peaceful solution. We also continue to urge the Government to address the root causes of violence and chronic instability in the State. In relation to the violence that broke out in Wau, Western Bahr el-Ghazal, in December, a number of disturbing arbitrary detentions were registered. I have raised this concern with national and state authorities and urged that due process be respected. All perpetrators should be held to account. I have also called for intercommunal reconciliation. Increased reports of threats to freedom of expression and respect for human rights in South Sudan are worrying. We have impressed upon the Government that it must take immediate steps to reverse this trend and have pressed for the investigation into the December 2012 killing of the columnist Isaiah Abraham to be expedited and the perpetrators to be brought to justice. On a positive note, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting has committed to the United Nations plan of action for freedom of expression and the protection of journalists — initiated by UNESCO and supported by UNMISS and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights — and has agreed to seek the Council of Ministers’ approval for South Sudan to become a pilot country. While investigating the case of a South Sudanese journalist under threat, two UNMISS human rights officers were held and interrogated for several hours in January. UNMISS immediately protested at the highest levels, and measures are now being worked out between UNMISS and the relevant security institutions to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. President Salva Kiir Mayardit has also pledged that he will take action against undisciplined elements within the security organs. Another welcome development is the establishment by the Government of a high-level panel to address the problem of arbitrary/prolonged detention. The panel is chaired by the Chief Justice, and includes the SPLA and the Ministers of Justice, National Security, the Interior and Defence. Also positively, South Sudan recently signed the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, but the Government should now fulfil its commitment to the accession and ratification of this and other key human rights instruments. The persistent violence and instability in South Sudan are deeply rooted. Historical animosities among communities, dating from the civil, and old divisions and power struggles among political protagonists are pervasive. New tensions are emerging from old wounds. These all need to be addressed. Hence, the Government’s initiative to launch a process of national reconciliation and healing is welcomed. It is essential, however, that this important process be inclusive and broadly owned by all stakeholders. To this end, the United Nations system is working closely with all stakeholders in supporting the preparations for the reconciliation process. The humanitarian situation in South Sudan remains challenging. There is a constant stream of refugees arriving in South Sudan from Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile in the Sudan, with over 14,000 new arrivals thus far in 2013. Meanwhile, humanitarian actors have continued to report access issues, the presence of weapons in the camps, and other impediments to their work. The proliferation of weapons caused clashes between the police and armed elements in Yida refugee camp on 17 March. Returnees from the Sudan continue to face difficulties with sustainable reintegration, as mentioned in the Secretary-General’s report. Despite these many challenges, South Sudan continues to lay the foundations for a viable and democratic State. Progress has been made, and let me go through a few key areas. The democratic foundations of this new and independent country have been established with a proper legal framework for multiparty democracy and elections and concomitant functioning institutions. The work on reviewing the Transitional Constitution is now also gaining momentum. On 26 February, the National Legislative Assembly approved an amendment to the Transitional Constitution that extended the mandate of the National Constitutional Review Commission by two years. The extension will ensure that the Commission has sufficient time to conduct broad nationwide consultations down to the county level, and implement its mandate. Police reform has continued through implementing the action plan and scaling up the training of police at all levels. The registration of all police personnel, which should greatly facilitate the right-sizing, training and transformation of the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS), is now complete. To date, the provisional number of registered police personnel stands at 46,427, after the rescreening that revised earlier figures. The SSNPS is now reconciling the registered figures with the payroll for each State in order to weed out ghost police officers. Furthermore, in support of reform of the security sector, reshuffle has taken place in the SPLA and the SSNPS, replacing a number of senior military and police officers with younger officers. This is part of an overall modernization and professionalization effort. UNMISS continues to provide training to the SSNPS and has developed proposals for contributing to the development of the capacity of the SPLA to protect civilians. In January, countrywide consultations on the draft national security policy were launched by the Government. UNMISS is working with international partners to provide technical and logistical support to this process. Meanwhile, the National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission Council has been established and a pilot disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme is set to be launched at Mapel on 15 April. With progress on disengagement from the border areas, it is hoped that DDR and security sector reform will gather momentum. The National Legislative Assembly has become more assertive in carrying out its role with stronger checks and balances, and more actively performing its oversight functions, including its handling of audit reports and budgets and the passage of critical legislation in a number of key areas. In the continued context of austerity, the Government has taken positive steps to stabilize the country’s macroeconomic situation, with reductions in average monthly Government spending by more than 50 per cent. Non-oil revenues increased 10-fold, to about 70 million South Sudanese pounds per month. However, a large fiscal gap still remains and, pending the resumption of oil flows, a multifaceted donor support package will be required to bridge it. A donors conference to address those issues is scheduled to be held in Washington, D.C., on 16 and 17 April. Even with the full and timely implementation of the agreement on oil, the conference is very important. I ask the Council to lend its full support to the success of the conference. I regret to inform members that, since my last briefing to the Council, the United Nations operating environment has become more challenging due to a number of grave violations of the status-of-forces agreement by the Government. We are addressing the problem through interventions at the highest levels. We are also launching a sensitization and training programme for all security institutions. As members are aware, the most egregious violation occurred on 21 December, when SPLA forces shot down an UNMISS helicopter, killing four Russian crew members. We have engaged the Government on the matter at the highest levels to urge a swift and transparent investigation. We have been coordinating closely with the Russian aviation company concerned and with civil aviation authorities to facilitate the investigations in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization rules. We have also regularly updated the Russian Embassy in Uganda on the investigation process. The Russian Ambassador has expressed his Government’s appreciation to UNMISS for its efforts in that regard. Allow me to conclude by recalling that in both resolutions 1996 (2011) and 2057 (2012), the Security Council determined that the situation faced by South Sudan continued to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region. That not only refers to the situation between South Sudan and the Sudan. With five other neighbours, the continuing proliferation of weapons in South Sudan has serious implications for regional security and stability. That continues among not only armed militia groups, but also civilian communities in South Sudan that feel vulnerable. Furthermore, South Sudan remains afflicted by internal security and political fault lines, which continue to render the country fragile and which has potential spillover effects. Every effort to mitigate that risk and to keep South Sudan on a path to stability and prosperity will contribute to the stability of the whole region. The international community’s continued support is needed more than ever. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Council for its support and its valuable contribution to the work of UNMISS.

I thank Ms. Johnson for her briefing. I now give the floor to the representative of South Sudan.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject.