S/PV.9134 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of South Sudan to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary- General for South Sudan and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan; and Ms. Lilian Riziq, President of the South Sudan Women’s Empowerment Network. 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/2022/689, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in South Sudan. I give the floor to Mr. Haysom. Mr. Haysom: I thank you, Madam President, for this opportunity to brief the Security Council on the situation in South Sudan. Since 2018, the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan has provided the framework to consolidate South Sudan’s transition from conflict to peace. The fundamentals of the agreement remain valid. The ceasefire among the parties has largely held, despite continued outbreaks of intercommunal violence. With the end of the transitional period approaching, however, it became increasingly clear that the parties would not be able to conclude the implementation of the key provisions of the agreement by February 2023 — the original deadline for transition. With that window closing, on 4 August the signatory parties agreed on a road map for completing the remaining tasks of the country’s transition. The road map contains a set of revised benchmarks and timelines and extends the transitional period by 24 months. It now envisages elections in December 2024. I note that those steps were taken in accordance with article 8.4 of the peace agreement. The road map is a welcome development, as it represents consensus among the key signatories on the way forward through a South Sudan-owned process. It also recommits the parties to the objectives and goals set out in the peace agreement. With that said, the extension of the transitional period has been met with mixed reactions by many South Sudanese who had hoped that, by now, they would be preparing to cast their votes in a democratic electoral process. Peace partners, non-signatory parties, some civil society actors and other stakeholders raised concerns about the inclusivity of the process and have called for greater clarity around the Government’s commitment to implementing the agreement on time. However, there is no alternative to the implementation of the peace agreement. That was reflected in the affirmative vote of 37 of the 43 members, a two-thirds majority, of the reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission in approving the extension. The next step is its ratification by the Transitional National Legislative Assembly. Let me underscore that the road map is a way point, not an end point, in South Sudan’s journey on the path to democratic transition. I emphasized that when I met with President Kiir and First Vice-President Machar, and I encouraged the parties to display tangible results by keeping to the strict deadlines of the road map’s calendar and to drive implementation in a manner that brings on board the other stakeholders and gains the confidence of the population. It is therefore critical that the international community and the Council remain closely seized of the process. One of the most important pending issues is the constitution-making process, as well as preparations for elections. I underscore the importance of an inclusive political process and the opening up of civic space as essential conditions for a robust and competitive electoral process to mark the completion of the transition. Against that backdrop, I can report some steps taken by the parties since my previous briefing to the Council (see S/PV.9067). The President and the First Vice-President agreed to resolve the parliamentary impasse, which enables the Transitional National Legislative Assembly to underwrite critical aspects of the peace agreement. I can report that key bills are now being considered by Parliament. Those bills will enable the creation or reform of electoral, constitution-making and judicial institutions. I commend the recent graduation of the first batch of the necessary unified forces from Greater Equatoria. Those graduates are a symbol of unity for the people in South Sudan and, in that regard, they are expected to play a critical role in contributing to the democratic transition of the country. More immediately, graduation should open up the possibility of their deployment to help curtail subnational and intercommunal violence. The capacity of the Government to exercise its pre-eminent responsibility for the protection of civilians will further expand with the reform of the security sector. In that regard, I have warned that the graduation is just a first step in the broader process of security sector transformation. The adequate provision of the budgetary resources necessary for the graduated forces, their integration and deployment remain vital to creating a unified army. However, the failure to address those critical issues has the potential to reverse the gains that have been made. A survey of the conflict landscape in South Sudan is a reminder that this is not the time to give up on the sense of urgency to implement the peace agreement. Subnational violence, marked by cycles of cattle raiding, abductions and revenge killings, continues to devastate communities and drive humanitarian needs. The fighting between Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-Army in Opposition forces and the Kitgwang and Agwelek factions in Upper Nile is concerning. Clashes have displaced thousands of people in Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity states and to the Sudan. We have received reports of people fleeing to the Malakal protection of civilians site, thereby exacerbating the already crowded and congested conditions there. We are currently working with the Government to meet the urgent needs of the displaced population. We have also strongly condemned recent violence in Mayom, Unity state, and the clashes in Rualbet, Warrap, both of which have caused devastating casualties, including reports of extrajudicial killings. I note the steps taken by the Government to condemn those extra-judicial killings, establish investigative committees and examine root causes of those conflicts. I continue to urge respect for due process of the law. Incidents of conflict-related sexual violence are increasing. However, it could be effectively addressed if all the parties concerned and the relevant authorities put a stop to the use of sexual violence as a weapon of choice. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMMISS) continues to support national ownership of the conflict-related sexual violence prevention and response agenda, national legal and policy frameworks and sustainable implementation capacities. More broadly, the Mission is strengthening its support to the justice chain in each state by supporting accountability, through the implementation of mobile circuit courts and courts martial and targeted training and mentoring and by focusing on criminal investigations and enhanced capacity to address crimes that risk destabilizing the peace, including those involving gender-based violence. As guided by the three-year strategic vision of the Security Council in our mandate, the Mission has largely managed to accomplish a double pivot in our focus and operations. The first pivot has been to orient our efforts towards greater facilitation of the political process, while engaging the political parties and other stakeholders, including non-signatories and civil society. The road map provides a fresh opportunity to align those efforts and sharpen our engagement with key actors, as well as institutions and partners. The second pivot is a transition from a Mission anchored in a static protection role to one that emphasizes proactive deployment to violent hotspots. We are focusing on mobility to meet protection needs where they are greatest throughout the country. We are leveraging our integrated civilian and military teams to ensure that security gains are always consolidated with local-level political and reconciliation initiatives, which can be followed up by programming from the United Nations country team. The Mission is confident that our expanded protection presence has made a difference. There has been a modest decrease in the number of civilians affected by violence and a significant decrease in the overall number of incidents, as compared to the previous year. Still, the biggest adversaries to our goal of an integrated, all-season Mission are often terrain and weather. We require greater mobility and innovation in our equipment, and we are developing exit strategies so that we can avoid becoming stuck — quite literally — in the mud. The ongoing UNMISS temporary operating base in Tambura, in Western Equatoria, is a case study in balancing such challenges and requirements. Allow me to share a word on the humanitarian situation. Food security continues to deteriorate in South Sudan, with an estimated 8.3 million people in need. Those trends are being driven by climate shocks, including floods and droughts, the conflict itself, the economic downturn, protracted displacement and disrupted livelihoods. Based on the ongoing humanitarian assessment, flooding and heavy rains have impacted hundreds of thousands of people to date. Access to the people in affected locations remains challenging due to impassable roads, flooded airstrips and insecurity. Overall, humanitarian needs continue to outstrip available resources and funding, requiring the reprogramming of such resources as they are available to respond to the most urgent crises. I therefore urge donors to continue responding to the 2022 humanitarian response plan as generously as they have been doing, but currently it is only 44.6 per cent funded. South Sudan has tremendous potential, although it may be currently difficult to imagine it fully blossoming. But from our conversations with the Government, donors and United Nations partners, we know that, if properly developed, livestock, agriculture and wildlife could become engines of livelihood creation for generations to come. Those natural endowments can be a source of conflict or a source of cooperation, and it is always political will that makes a difference. Please allow me to share some additional thoughts in conclusion. The next few months will be a litmus test for the parties in demonstrating their commitment to the implementation of the road map. Delays and setbacks so far have come at a cost, notably, the withdrawal of major donor funding to the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism and the reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission. I urge partners to reconsider their support to those mechanisms, which are critical for the renewed phase of the peace process. Similarly, I urge the Government to ensure the sufficient and transparent allocation of national resources towards the tasks outlined in the road map. I acknowledge the contribution of the Government of the Sudan, particularly in support for the transitional security arrangements. I also welcome the Mission’s ongoing partnership with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union, as well as the troika and European Union. With that, let me reaffirm that the support of the international community continues to matter in this process. Our collective task now is to support the parties in fulfilling their obligations to the people of South Sudan as per the timing set out in the road map. I therefore express my gratitude to the Council for its continued attention and interest.

I thank Mr. Haysom for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Riziq. Ms. Riziq: I thank you, Madam President, for this opportunity to brief the Security Council on the situation in South Sudan. On 12 September, South Sudan marked the four- year anniversary of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. Four years after the signing of the peace agreement in 2018, the power-sharing agreement has neither ended the violence nor delivered the needed reforms. The situation in South Sudan is unsustainable. The whole country is breaking down. There is rampant insecurity and forced displacement of civilians. The civic space is severely restricted. Women and girls are routinely subjected to sexual violence. Despite the recent graduation of security forces by the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity, the dire humanitarian and security situations continue. The joint human rights report published on 6 September by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights documents horrific violations and abuses of human rights in South Sudan’s Unity state. The report documents 131 cases of rape and gang rape, including girls as young as 8 years old and a 9-year-old girl who was gang-raped to death. The current Government has failed to carry out its mandate, including implementing the peace agreement and protecting civilians. Instead, corruption and the misuse of resources, especially oil revenues, remain prevalent in South Sudan. Therefore, extending the current Government’s term, given its leaders’ failure to engender peace, democracy or development, will prolong the suffering of ordinary citizens. In fact, the extension of the term of the Government without the inclusive participation of civil society or other political and social groups will entrench the parties in their positions vis-à-vis the agreement and encourage the Government to hold fraudulent elections to remain in power. The post-election period in such a scenario will lead to violence and the outbreak of a full-fledged war. Such a war will lead to the total collapse of South Sudan. Therefore, we call on the region and the international community to support the call for a broad-based process to ensure the inclusivity of South Sudan’s transition to peace, democracy and development. In that regard, we support Fordham University’s initiative to convene a broad-based meeting on South Sudan as a follow- up to the round-table discussion to be held in New York on 3 June 2023. The initiative seeks to convene an inclusive political dialogue for South Sudanese stakeholders in the region. The goal is to help the South Sudanese reach a broad consensus on a road map for a new transitional programme, agree on a transitional constitutional framework outlining the terms of the transitional period and identify the top priorities of the transitional Government. That non-partisan initiative has the potential to influence and push South Sudanese political and social groups to engage in an inclusive political dialogue and to agree on a road map for a transitional programme with a specific mandate and timeline for free, fair, credible and inclusive elections. We believe that such a process will help the South Sudanese get out of the vicious cycle of political violence and build a society that will foster good governance and sustainable development and ensure justice and accountability.

I thank Ms. Riziq for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I thank Ms. Riziq and Special Representative of the Secretary- General Haysom and for their comprehensive briefings on the situation in South Sudan. The United States commends the work of the leadership of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the men and women of UNMISS and the troop- and police-contributing countries that play such a critical role in protecting civilians and mitigating conflicts in many volatile areas. My remarks today will address three key themes: first, UNMISS’ contributions towards peace and security in South Sudan; secondly, the disappointing step backwards on a political solution to the country’s transition period; and thirdly and lastly, but not least, the continued human rights abuses, including pervasive sexual violence, to which Ms. Riziq just referred. First, we commend UNMISS’ efforts and dedication to de-escalate tensions in Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei states over the past month, where thousands of civilians have fled their homes due to fighting between armed factions. The most recent outbreak of violence occurred in Adidiyang, Upper Nile state, on 7 September, resulting in numerous deaths and the destruction of buildings used for humanitarian purposes. Displaced people, as we heard, are now fleeing to the Malakal protection of civilians site, where UNMISS is providing shelter and critical humanitarian assistance. We note with grave concern the heavy rains and flash flooding that continue to affect tens of thousands of people across South Sudan. Those events underscore the continuing impact of climate change on vulnerable communities. The United States is supporting the provision of safe drinking water, hygiene kits, emergency shelter items and more to the most affected communities, and long-standing United States Agency for International Development disaster preparedness programmes in South Sudan are also responding by distributing pre-positioned relief supplies. The United States is appalled by the trauma, violence and inhumane conditions that the people of South Sudan are forced to experience on a daily basis. We urge the Government of South Sudan to take immediate actions to end hostilities and engage in dialogue to resolve the remaining causes of the conflict. We urgently call on South Sudanese officials, the members of the Security Council and the international community to assist UNMISS in its humanitarian efforts to address the dire needs of civilians, while also providing for the safety and the security of UNMISS personnel, humanitarian workers in South Sudan and internally displaced persons. Secondly, the United States is highly disappointed that South Sudan’s leaders extended the transitional period, thereby once again extending their own time and power, despite failing over the past four years to deliver fully on the commitments they made in the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. We regret that the Government leaders did not postpone the ratification of the extension to allow themselves time to demonstrate, through sustained action and results on the ground, that the new commitment  — as set out in their road map  — will be different from the past few years. We also regret that the Government did not take the opportunity to meaningfully engage with civil society and other agreement stakeholders, which we believe would increase the chances of its successful implementation. Thirdly, as we heard from Ms. Riziq, UNMISS and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released a joint report in September on human rights abuses committed in southern Unity state. The report documents human rights violations and abuses, including the killing of 173 civilians, the abduction of civilians and sexual violence. The report specifically finds that Government and allied forces engaged in scorched-earth tactics against victims, including children, such as shooting, beheading, burning alive and drowning in swamps. The report also documents 131 incidents of conflict-related sexual violence, including the rape and gang rape of women and, as we tragically heard, girls as young as 8 years old. The report states that such acts were systematically committed by Government and allied forces as a method or strategy of warfare. While we welcome UNMISS’ support of the mobile courts, we continue to be alarmed by the prevalence of gender-based violence cases, including conflict-related sexual violence, occurring throughout the country. It is completely unacceptable that women, girls and boys are subjected to that, with the most severe impact on women and girls in all their diversity. We urge the Government of South Sudan to swiftly investigate all human rights violations and abuses, including conflict-related sexual violence, and to hold perpetrators to account.

I have the honour to read out this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council, namely, Gabon, Kenya and my own country, Ghana (A3). At the outset, we take note of the Secretary- General’s comprehensive report (S/2022/689) and thank Special Representative Haysom for his useful insights on the situation in South Sudan. The A3 also appreciates and takes note of the additional briefing by Ms. Riziq, President of the South Sudan Women’s Empowerment Network. We welcome the participation of our brother the Permanent Representative of South Sudan in this meeting. The A3’s statement will focus on three issues, namely, the political, security and humanitarian situations in South Sudan. First, regarding the political situation in South Sudan, the A3 welcomes the gradual implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan that has been witnessed over the past four years, despite the challenges. The A3 also welcomes and commends the signatory parties to the Revitalized Agreement for unveiling the road map extending the transitional period by 24 months to enable the implementation of its key outstanding tasks. To enhance implementation, we urge an all-inclusive process to create national ownership of the road map through dialogue and consultations with all segments of society, including women’s groups, youth and civil society. The A3 also welcomes the progress on the formation of the necessary unified forces, in particular the recent graduation of more than 20,000 members of the unified national army, police and other security forces. That is a key milestone in strengthening the capacity of South Sudan’s security institutions to protect civilians and address insecurity, including intermittent intercommunal violence and human rights concerns, as well as to guarantee the territorial integrity of the country. We urge the parties to expedite the graduation of all remaining forces. It is important for the international community to support the implementation of the transitional security arrangements, in particular by providing adequate support to fund, equip, deploy and sustain the forces over time. The graduation of the necessary unified forces should usher in a new phase of the peace process and should be built upon through the implementation of all outstanding tasks in the Revitalized Agreement. We continue to urge all political leaders to place the overall interests of the nation first in their discussions and decisions. The A3 reiterates the call on the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the United Nations, as well as all other bilateral and multilateral partners, not to relent in their efforts but to continue to extend the necessary assistance and financial support to the activities of the Revitalized Agreement’s implementation oversight mechanisms and institutions, including the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Committee. On the security situation, the A3 remains deeply concerned by the reoccurring intercommunal conflicts in some parts of the country. We condemn the reported fresh attacks and violence by armed elements, including those targeted at internally displaced persons at the Adidiyang island site in Upper Nile state. We are also deeply concerned about the renewed hostilities in some parts of Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei states, which resulted in the killing of civilians, the abduction of women and children and new displacements. We urge all armed groups to immediately cease hostilities and observe the permanent ceasefire. We further call on the Government of South Sudan to urgently intervene to de-escalate the situation, protect civilian lives and investigate those incidents. The A3 also condemns the reported incidents of extrajudicial killings and urges thorough investigations into those murders. Those who perpetrate heinous crimes should be held accountable. The dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan is worrisome, with a reported increase in internally displaced persons and higher levels of food insecurity. The effects of climate change have continued to worsen the situation, with South Sudan facing severe flooding, localized drought and conflicts driven by the struggle for livelihoods. The A3 wishes to reiterate its call for increased international donor support in order to respond to the humanitarian situation, including to help increase the capacity of the World Food Programme to deliver food aid to South Sudan. We urge the Government of South Sudan to put in place additional measures for the protection of humanitarian workers and to facilitate unhindered humanitarian access to all parts of the country. The A3 takes this opportunity to condemn the attack on a humanitarian vehicle in Eastern Equatoria state on 9 August, which resulted in the death of a fifth humanitarian worker since the beginning of the year. We express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, and we call on the perpetrators of such attacks to immediately cease hostilities towards aid workers, who are sacrificing their lives under challenging circumstances in order to serve humankind. Furthermore, we are aware of the need for improvements to the country’s economic situation, which remains a key element in alleviating the humanitarian situation. The A3 welcomes the economic recovery measures implemented by the Government of South Sudan. The much-needed reforms to help diversify the country’s economy and to promote agriculture, food security and infrastructure development will require significant international resource support. The A3 reiterates its call for additional international donor development assistance for South Sudan. Finally, the A3 wishes to underscore that, moving forward, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction, including capacity-building of South Sudan’s public institutions, remain critical areas of focus in support of South Sudan. We appeal to the Government of South Sudan to take advantage of the opportunities available at the Peacebuilding Commission in that regard. The A3 also welcomes and commends the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the United Nations country team for continuing to provide technical assistance and capacity-building assistance to the various South Sudanese institutions. The A3 also joins the Secretary-General in conveying our deep appreciation to the troop- and police-contributing countries, Special Representative Haysom and the uniformed and civilian personnel of UNMISS for continuing to work tirelessly towards peace in South Sudan.

I thank Special Representative Haysom for his briefing. I welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of South Sudan at today’s meeting. I also listened attentively to the briefing by Ms. Riziq. The political transition in South Sudan has entered a new and important stage. Last month, the signatories to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan agreed on a road map to extend the transitional period. That was a political decision made independently by all parties in South Sudan. It is also the correct choice in the light of the current situation and is conducive to the peace process. Like the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and other international partners, China welcomes that development. China hopes that all the parties concerned will continue to cooperate and work together to gradually achieve the remaining goals of the transitional period in accordance with the road map so as to lay a solid foundation for elections. Countries should understand the practical difficulties faced by South Sudan, take an objective view of the decision on extending the transitional period and not blindly regard elections as a panacea to solve all problems and should not ignore political efforts made on dialogue and reconciliation among the parties in South Sudan. The successful graduation and deployment of the first cohort of South Sudan’s necessary unified forces at the end of August shows significant progress in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement. It marks a solid step forward in South Sudan’s peace process. China welcomes and commends that step and believes that the necessary unified forces can play an important role in safeguarding national security and eliminating violent conflicts. It cannot be ignored that follow-up actions of the necessary unified forces and the implementation of other security arrangements set out in the Revitalized Agreement require concrete help from the international community. Cutting off funds while complaining about delays in implementing the agreement is not an effective solution to the problem. Security Council sanctions against South Sudan are not conducive to the necessary unified forces securing the security equipment needed to carry out its mandates. A growing number of Council members have already recognized that. China once again calls on the Council to pay attention to South Sudan’s concerns and appeals on the issue of sanctions, lift the arms embargo and other sanctions against South Sudan at an early date and help it improve its security capacity. As the youngest country in the world, South Sudan has a late start in development and a weak foundation. As such, it requires continued support from the international community. Affected by floods, food shortages, violent conflicts and other factors, South Sudan is facing dire humanitarian challenges and is in urgent need of help. Under such circumstances, reducing development assistance and imposing indiscriminate sanctions are making things worse. The international community should not only increase humanitarian assistance to South Sudan, but also help accelerate its independent development and build its capacity and resilience to counter risks and challenges and promote peace through development. As an international witness to the Revitalized Agreement, China has always respected South Sudan’s sovereignty and independence and supported its efforts to embark upon a development path that fits its own national conditions. China recently provided material assistance to the necessary unified forces and cooperated with the United Nations Development Programme on its disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme. The Chinese peacekeepers in UNMISS are fearless and dedicated in actively carrying out their peace mission. Going forward, we will continue to work with the international community to provide support and assistance for the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement and help the people of South Sudan in their effort to lead a peaceful life as soon as possible.

I thank Special Representative Haysom and Ms. Riziq for their briefings. In the past couple of weeks, we have seen that tangible progress in implementing the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan is indeed possible, particularly in two specific areas. First, we welcome the critical graduation of the first batch of necessary unified forces. Truly unified security forces are key to reducing violence and conflict and to providing peace and security. The next step will now be to graduate and deploy forces across the country and ensure that they have access to food and medicine and are consistently paid their salaries. Secondly, we support the Government’s commitment to a road map. We strongly believe, however, that the road map would have benefited from a broad-based and inclusive process. The Government could have used the road map process to build a greater consensus and domestic-support base. With only five months left of the original transitional period, South Sudan’s leaders must now deliver the results they promised, in accordance with the timelines in the road map and by dedicating sufficient resources. The people of South Sudan also need to see progress on other promises, such as public financial management reform, fighting corruption, as well as the development of a new constitution and the institutions needed for elections. The processes ahead will be successful only if there is true civic and political space and freedom. Opening up civic space is a precondition for the successful implementation of the peace agreement. Attempts to silence civil society activists and the media run counter to the spirit of the peace agreement and democratic governance. Also, to deliver on the timelines in the new road map, stronger enforcement mechanisms and sustained efforts are needed from the region, including from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union. The level of violence, including sexual violence, and the recruitment and use of children by armed forces and groups remains unacceptably high. We are deeply concerned about the findings of the joint investigations by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights into human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law in southern Unity state. We are also deeply worried about the prevailing high level of violence in Upper Nile state. State and national authorities should intervene urgently to de-escalate the situation and protect civilian lives. We urge the Government to investigate those situations and hold perpetrators accountable. We commend UNMISS and UN-Women for launching three women’s networks in the police, military and prison services in July. Promoting human rights and gender mainstreaming in security-sector reform is vital to fostering a climate of accountability and advancing effective peacebuilding. Subnational violence destroys livelihoods and forces people to flee their homes. Violence also deepens human suffering and food insecurity and is limiting humanitarian access across South Sudan. We reiterate that it is the Government’s responsibility to protect civilians, including children. That is a critical component of securing sustainable political peace. All of this is taking place against a backdrop of record floods, which South Sudan is now experiencing for a fourth year, further demonstrating that climate-related security risks must be integrated into efforts to manage communal natural resources and conflicts over land ownership and rights. We commend the efforts of UNMISS to promote dialogue, peaceful coexistence and reconciliation at local levels, and we believe it has a role to play in supporting the Government’s capacity to adapt to climate change. In conclusion, we acknowledge the recent progress in the implementation of the peace agreement. We now strongly encourage a sense of urgency regarding implementing other outstanding tasks and showing a recommitment to the timelines of the agreement, as adjusted by the road map.

At the outset, I thank Mr. Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his thorough and detailed information on the developments on the ground. We also listened with interest to the briefing by Ms. Lilian Riziq and welcome the participation of the representative of South Sudan in today’s meeting. The United Arab Emirates has followed the recent developments in South Sudan, particularly the signing on 4 August of a peace road map that extends the transitional period by two years and is endorsed by the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission. We hope that it will contribute to ensuring the implementation of the essential items of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, which we all agree remains key to supporting security and stability in the country. We continue to encourage all the parties concerned to promote dialogue and cooperation in order to achieve the objectives of the Agreement. With regard to the security situation, the protection of civilians should remain a top priority, especially in the context of the alarming rise in sexual and gender- based violence against women and children. We underscore the importance of holding the perpetrators of those heinous crimes accountable. Pertaining to the ongoing security-sector reforms, we value the recent Government efforts to see the first batch of the unified forces graduate last month within the framework of the security arrangements set out in the Revitalized Agreement, and we hope it will continue to build on those efforts. All the parties should continue working to de-escalate tensions, build trust among local communities and ensure South Sudan’s unity and stability. It is essential to focus on addressing the root causes of the various current challenges, which in turn will help to put an end to intercommunal violence, especially given the outbreaks in a number of regions, notably the Upper Nile and Unity state. Despite the ongoing efforts to respond to the pressing humanitarian needs in South Sudan, the humanitarian situation remains complex, as we heard in briefings yesterday and today. According to the World Food Programme, more than 8 million people in South Sudan are estimated to be facing acute food insecurity and most of the country’s population is in need of urgent assistance, given that the numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons are rising. The conditions have been exacerbated by recurring floods, difficult economic challenges and inadequate infrastructure, as well as the effects of the coronavirus disease pandemic, all of which demand that the international community first step up its joint actions addressing the humanitarian situation, and secondly establish humanitarian operations with the resilience of local communities in mind, including mechanisms that focus on addressing the long-term impact of climate change, for example by taking advantage of renewable energy sources. The United Arab Emirates would like to commend the important role played by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in conflict prevention, as well as in supporting the Government of South Sudan by providing technical expertise and building the capacities needed to achieve peace and stability in the country. That also requires sustained commitment from all regional and international partners.

Let me begin by thanking Special Representative of the Secretary-General Nicholas Haysom and civil-society representative Ms. Lilian Riziq for their informative briefings. I also welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of South Sudan at today’s meeting. There have been some positive political and security developments in South Sudan in the past few months, as highlighted in the report of the Secretary- General (S/2022/689). We believe that the 30 August graduation ceremony of more than 21,000 unified forces builds on the recent political developments, including the completion of the formation of the reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly. We also welcome the agreement reached between President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar whereby all the parties to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan should participate in the governance structures of the administrative areas. Those developments are significant and should be duly recognized. We welcome the extension of the transitional period by another two years until February 2025, a measure agreed to by all the signatories to the Revitalized Peace Agreement. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development Partners Forum, of which India is a member State, was one of the 37 members of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission voting in favour of the extension of the transitional period. We have noted the Special Representative of the Secretary- General’s calls to the Government of South Sudan to redouble efforts to agree on a road map with clear benchmarks, timelines and priorities to pave the way for free, fair and credible elections. Concerns about public finance management and corruption should also be addressed as a top priority. The humanitarian situation, however, remains a matter of concern. The international community, including the United Nations, must step up its efforts in support of South Sudan. We appreciate the efforts of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to deliver humanitarian assistance to those in need, particularly in the flood-affected areas. The safety and security of the thousands of civilians caught in the recent clashes between rival groups in Upper Nile is a matter of concern. In that regard, we take note of the role of UNMISS in protecting the civilians at the Malakal site and in mitigating the intercommunal conflict. We have also noted the improved communication between UNMISS and the Government and the integrated and cross-Mission approach, including the setting up of temporary operational bases. We appreciate the Mission’s efforts to assist rule-of-law and accountability institutions by supporting special courts, mobile courts and the development of a framework for victim and witness protection programmes. The recent creation of the Ministry of Peacebuilding in South Sudan will help to ensure that peacebuilding needs are better understood. India has been one of the largest troop-contributing countries to UNMISS since the Mission’s establishment. We currently have nearly 2,300 troops serving in South Sudan. Apart from its core mandate of protecting civilians and providing medical services, the Indian contingent in UNMISS is also contributing to promoting sustainable development and the people’s welfare. Over the years, the Indian peacekeepers have gone beyond the call of duty by undertaking a variety of social activities in that regard. The United Nations has consistently acknowledged our peacekeepers’ contributions. It is also a matter of pride for my delegation that Lieutenant General Mohan Subramanian, who recently took charge, is the second consecutive UNMISS Force Commander from India. We believe that during this transformative phase South Sudan requires the wholehearted support of the international community, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union and the United Nations. India is cognizant of the challenges South Sudan is facing in its pursuit of peace and stability. Both before and during the pandemic, we delivered humanitarian assistance to the country in the form of food grains and medicines. The artificial-limb fitment camp we organized in Juba last year benefited more than 500 amputees. We are also providing a wide range of capacity-building courses to the young people of South Sudan. In conclusion, we will continue to support South Sudan and its people in their journey towards securing sustainable peace and a prosperous future.

I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Haysom and Ms. Riziq for their briefings, which were insightful and sometimes stark. I want to thank Mr. Haysom and his team for all their work in supporting the South Sudanese people’s aspirations for peace. Ireland strongly supports the role of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in supporting peace and stability, as highlighted by Colm Brophy, our Minister for Overseas Development Aid, on his visit earlier this month to South Sudan. We also commend the South Sudan Women’s Empowerment Network for its efforts and recognize the increasingly challenging operating environment in which it continues to work — and we thank Ms. Riziq. Ireland is fully committed to supporting South Sudan’s peace process. While it is regrettable that progress has been limited, the recently agreed transitional road map is an important step forward. Implementation in an inclusive manner, with respect for timelines, is essential and urgent. We call on South Sudan’s leaders to work together in a spirit of compromise in order to deliver on their own peace agreement. I very much welcome the Special Representative of the Secretary-General’s updates on the road map. Progress on the electoral and constitutional processes will be key to a successful transition towards a stable and peaceful South Sudan. We urge the authorities to ensure the full inclusion of civil society and bring together all of South Sudan’s people, providing the space for women’s full participation in the process. A favourable and stable security environment is essential to the transitional process. As Mr. Haysom said, the recent graduation of 21,000 forces into a national security structure is welcome. It demonstrates the Government’s commitment to creating a unified national defence force under civilian-led authority. A fully implemented plan for the development of a national security force is required and conditions at the sites need to be urgently improved. We are seriously alarmed by the continued reports of high levels of violence, human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law across South Sudan. That includes hundreds of survivors of horrific sexual and gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence, which we condemn in the strongest possible terms. We call on the authorities in South Sudan to urgently take the necessary steps to address the issue of impunity, as well as the drivers of conflict and insecurity. The recent joint report by UNMISS and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the levels of violence in southern Unity state is deeply worrying. The survivors  — and all of South Sudan  — deserve to see accountability for perpetrators and redress for those affected. South Sudan is facing its worst humanitarian crisis since its independence. The international community cannot stand by while so many are facing extreme levels of food insecurity and malnutrition in South Sudan and the wider Horn of Africa. We call on the South Sudanese authorities to ensure full and unimpeded humanitarian access in the face of such great need. We also call on all actors to protect humanitarian workers and humanitarian resources from attacks, targeted killings, threats and looting. That fact that five humanitarian workers have been killed already this year is entirely unacceptable. The dire humanitarian situation has been exacerbated by flooding and other climate-related issues. On his visit this month Mr. Brophy visited Bentiu, in Unity state. He witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of flooding and climate change in northern South Sudan and met with people grappling with the combined impact of climate-related shocks and protracted conflict, which are causing widespread displacement and undermining stability. Together with the European Union and its other partners, Ireland will continue to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to those who need it most. The Security Council should recognize the undeniable fact of climate-related security risks in its work. Ireland is pleased to be supporting a dedicated climate and security adviser in South Sudan who is working with the Climate Security Mechanism. We hope that over time, that work can support the Council’s consideration of the impact of climate change on peace and security. In conclusion, we again urge South Sudan’s leaders to fulfil their promises and deliver in order to ensure their people’s shared vision of a peaceful and prosperous future.

I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Haysom for his comprehensive briefing and commend his and his team’s tireless efforts to support the peace process in South Sudan. I also thank Ms. Lilian Riziq for giving us a frank perspective from the point of view of civil society. I would like to make the following three points. First, South Sudan is at a critical juncture in the wake of the signatory parties’ agreement to extend the transitional period. The next step is for the leaders to show genuine political will and commit to fully implementing the road map and creating the necessary conditions to advance the constitution-making process, pass the relevant legislation and create the institutions needed to prepare South Sudan for free, fair and peaceful elections. The graduation of the first batch of the unified forces is a welcome step in the reunification process and the implementation of outstanding security arrangements. Efforts must now be focused on completing the formation of the defence force. Time is of the essence. The extension of the transition period must be accompanied by a drastic shift in attitude and commitment. We urge the Government to engage meaningfully with civil society and other stakeholders in order to maintain sustained action in delivering on the road map. Secondly, we are concerned about the increased violence in South Sudan, including the clashes and cattle raiding in Unity and Upper Nile states, as well as other regions, which have resulted in killings and displacement. Albania strongly condemns the attacks and urges all the parties to end the fighting. The Government of South Sudan must ensure the protection of civilians and fully investigate serious violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law, particularly those committed by joint Government forces and allied militia. Similarly, the astonishing 218 per cent increase in conflict-related sexual violence documented by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan between April and June alone is deeply disturbing. We call for full accountability and an end to the impunity that encourages such grave violations. We also call for the expedited implementation of the action plan of the armed forces on addressing conflict-related sexual violence under the joint communiqué, particularly as the graduation of the armed forces continues. Thirdly, South Sudan is facing a dire humanitarian situation, with 63 per cent of the population at risk of acute food insecurity. Violence and intercommunal tensions are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. We urge all parties to honour their obligations under international law and ensure the protection of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid. Albania strongly condemns attacks on aid workers and their assets, and we call for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. In conclusion, Albania supports the recent road map paving the way for a peaceful end to the transitional period in South Sudan. However, we strongly urge that the efforts be focused on implementing the road map in an inclusive manner, by including civil society, women and young people and respecting the timelines for delivery. In that regard, we call on the leaders of South Sudan to cooperate and work with their international partners to create the political environment needed to foster dialogue, strengthen civil society and increase political efficacy. As the Secretary-General highlighted, that road map should serve as a recommitment to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan of 2018.

Let me begin by thanking Special Representative Haysom and Ms. Riziq for their informative briefings. I also welcome the delegation of South Sudan to this meeting, in which our delegation would like to raise four issues. First, we join the United Nations, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in welcoming the road map to amend the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan and to extend the transitional period. We encourage the parties to the Revitalized Agreement to perceive the road map as an incentive to implement the agreement’s clauses. The parties may lose valuable impetus if they see the road map as simply a delay in the agreement’s commitments. Secondly, we commend South Sudan’s transitional Government and the parties to the Revitalized Agreement for the graduation of the first batch of the unified forces. We concur with the Secretary-General and Special Representative Haysom’s assessment that a unified defence force is a momentous expression of national unity. We hope that the graduation contributes to positive momentum, stimulates all the parties to the Revitalized Agreement to recommit to its implementation and above all contributes to peace in South Sudan. Thirdly, we are concerned about intercommunal violence in South Sudan. We commend the proactive deployment by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) of mobile structures and alert responses to conflict hotspots in many parts of the country. However, the extrajudicial killings in Unity state, the heavy fighting between armed factions in Upper Nile state and disturbing incidents of conflict- related sexual violence in many parts of South Sudan are cases that demand bolder reactions from the South Sudanese authorities. Fourthly and finally, we are apprehensive about the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan. It is alarming that two thirds of the population, almost 8 million people, are expected to face extreme food insecurity and malnutrition. It is also disconcerting that South Sudan remains one of the world’s most dangerous places for humanitarian workers. We therefore commend the partners that have provided relief to South Sudanese families, while calling for additional humanitarian funding and requesting that particular attention be paid to the safety of humanitarian personnel. We also want to highlight Brazil’s participation in UNMISS, including through the presence of a Brazilian chief of staff, as a token of our commitment to promoting durable peace in South Sudan. In conclusion, we encourage the transitional Government and the parties to the Revitalized Agreement to implement the road map earnestly. Above all, we underscore our support for South Sudan and UNMISS.

I thank Special Representative Haysom and Ms. Riziq for their reports. I also welcome the representative of South Sudan to this meeting. Today I will address three points on the situation in South Sudan and the work of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). First, with regard to the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, on 4 August the parties signed a road map extending the transition period until February 2025. We hope that during that period the Government of South Sudan will be able to make tangible progress in implementing the outstanding benchmarks. That is essential for the conduct of free, credible and fair elections. We also hope that progress can be made on the consideration of pending draft laws for the elections and that they will be an inclusive process with the participation of all parties, including the opposition and civil society, as well as women and young people. That is particularly important in the light of reports of a shrinking civic space. Secondly, the prevailing security situation in the country  — in particular the high levels of intercommunal violence  — is disproportionately affecting civilians and is very worrying. We deplore all attacks such as the one that took place last week on the centre for internally displaced persons in Adidiyang. We call on the authorities to take measures to protect civilians and prevent the escalation of fighting. We hope that the recent graduation of the first batch of the unified forces will contribute to that end. UNMISS must continue to react with rapid deployments and temporary mobile units. UNMISS and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights continue to report abuses and serious human rights violations. Mexico deplores the extrajudicial killings in Mayom county and reiterates the importance of strengthening the justice system. We are deeply concerned about the increase in cases of sexual and gender-based violence and about the grave violations against children. We call for those responsible for such acts to be brought to justice, as well as for the provision of the necessary services and reparations to survivors and victims. Thirdly, concerning humanitarian assistance and as Mr. Haysom mentioned, the conditions for the humanitarian community are increasingly precarious. We urge the South Sudanese authorities to take immediate action to end the violence and restrictions faced by the humanitarian community. In that regard, we regret the imposition of tariffs and taxes on cargo for use by the Mission and hope that the Government can cooperate to facilitate UNMISS’s work. In conclusion, I want to reiterate the importance of addressing the root causes fuelling cycles of violence. Stabilization and peacebuilding depend on it.

We thank our briefers, Special Representative Haysom and Ms. Riziq. I would like to make three key points in response to what we have heard today. First, the United Kingdom remains committed to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan as the best means to deliver peace and stability in South Sudan. We acknowledge the recent vote by the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission to extend the transitional period. We now call on the Government of South Sudan to deliver on the commitments set out in its road map. That will require meaningful engagement with civil society. Like the United States and Norway, we regret that the Government did not postpone the ratification of the extension to enable greater consultation, which would have increased the confidence of South Sudan’s citizens in the process after years of inaction. Secondly, we urge the Government of South Sudan to dedicate sufficient resources to the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement. We welcome the recent graduation of the first tranche of the unified forces as an important first step towards creating an accountable and effective national force. But overall, progress on its implementation remains too slow. We therefore encourage the Government of South Sudan to be clearer on where it requires support, including from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), to meet critical benchmarks. Thirdly, the United Kingdom is deeply concerned about the continued reports of violence in South Sudan, including widespread sexual violence and violations and abuses of human rights. That includes the attacks on Mayom county and the subsequent extrajudicial killings of force commanders in Unity state. We welcome the formation of a special committee to investigate that matter, the findings of which must be acted on to ensure accountability. We also condemn the ongoing violence in Upper Nile state. We commend the efforts of UNMISS to protect civilians, while reiterating our calls on the Government to shoulder its responsibility to protect its citizens. We urge the Government of South Sudan to enable humanitarian access, address violence against humanitarian personnel and bring perpetrators to justice. In conclusion, the United Kingdom reiterates its unwavering support to the South Sudanese people’s quest for peace, prosperity and democracy. We call on their leaders to now deliver real change for their people.

We thank Special Representative Haysom for his briefing on developments in the situation in South Sudan. We welcome the participation of Mr. Akuei Bona Malwal, the Permanent Representative of South Sudan, in today’s meeting. We also listened carefully to the remarks by the South Sudanese civil-society representative, Ms. Lilian Riziq. We support the international efforts, and especially those of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), to stabilize the situation and strengthen peace and security in that young State. We welcome the unanimous decision on 4 August by the parties to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan to extend the transition period by 24 months, as well as the road map adopted in that regard. We consider it the right decision in the current circumstances. We call on the South Sudanese parties to work together to implement the road map. All structures operating within the framework of the peace agreement must have the necessary funding. We welcomed the graduation of the contingent of the unified armed forces at the end of August. Together with the establishment in April of a single joint command structure, it represents an important step towards strengthening the country’s defence capabilities. We urge Juba to continue to prioritize the formation of a unified army, which we consider key to the successful subsequent advancement of the peace process and the smooth conduct of the general elections scheduled for 2025. In order to facilitate the training of military personnel of the unified forces and State security bodies, we believe it would be justified to consider the possibility of easing the sanctions regime currently in force against South Sudan. We believe that the Security Council’s approval in May of a notification regime for simplifying the delivery of non-lethal military equipment to the country was an important but insufficient step aimed at meeting Juba’s legitimate wishes, which are supported by the solidarity of its African neighbours. Against that difficult background, the peripheral security situation remains fraught with difficulties. We are concerned about the outbreaks of violence in Unity state and strongly condemn any violations of the Revitalized Agreement and any acts of violence against civilians, including humanitarian personnel working in South Sudan. We pay tribute to the mediation efforts of the African Union and States members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. We note the work of the Community of Sant’Egidio, which ensured the return of two more groups to the path of dialogue during the reporting period. We call on all parties that are not signatories to the Revitalized Agreement to join the peace process. In conclusion, we would like to emphasize our consistent position that the main task of UNMISS should remain the stabilization of the security situation and the provision of assistance to the South Sudanese authorities in its implementation of the agreement. The task of resolving issues related to the protection of human rights and the fight against corruption falls within Juba’s responsibilities.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of France. I thank Mr. Nicholas Haysom and Ms. Lilian Riziq for their briefings. I also welcome the participation of the representative of South Sudan in this meeting. I would like to emphasize three points. First, we call for the swift implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. We have taken note of the extension of the transitional period for another two years  — a decision that was unavoidable, given that it was unrealistic to hold elections by the end of this year. The period should be used to bridge the gap in the implementation of the peace agreement. We welcome the adoption of the road map, which sets out clear priorities and deadlines, particularly the implementation of security arrangements, the constitutional process and the earliest possible preparation for future elections. The integration of 21,000 combatants into the security forces is also an important step. Those efforts must continue in order to complete the integration of all combatants from the signatory armed groups and deploy them on the ground. Secondly, it is essential to create conditions conducive to the implementation of the road map. We encourage the authorities to allocate the necessary budgetary resources. It is also essential to put in place a legislative and constitutional framework provided for in the Revitalized Agreement. The participation of civil society, in particular women and young people, will be crucial to the credibility of the peace process, as Ms. Lilian Riziq’s briefing today made clear. We regret the limited involvement of civil society in the discussions on the road map. We are concerned about restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, respect for which will be fundamental in the lead- up to the elections. We are also extremely concerned about the information that Ms. Riziq provided on the issue of sexual violence. In that connection, the work of defining the remit of the security forces must be finalized as soon as possible. Finally, we encourage regional actors to continue their support alongside the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. In particular, we reiterate our support for the action of the mechanisms for monitoring the Revitalized Agreement and the ceasefire set up under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. Thirdly, the authorities must fulfil their prerogatives to protect civilians and humanitarian workers. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has recently produced a report that clearly establishes the facts and those responsible for the atrocities committed between February and May in Unity state, including unspeakable acts of sexual violence. The perpetrators must be brought to justice and punished by the Council. Obstacles to UNMISS’s freedom of movement have increased yet again in recent months. We call on the relevant authorities to resume cooperation with the Mission, which has produced encouraging results in the past. Finally, we condemn the attacks on humanitarian workers and the administrative harassment of United Nations and non-governmental organization staff. In response to the emergency situation, the European Union has increased its humanitarian assistance to South Sudan to €77.2 million for 2022 in addition to the €208 million in planned development cooperation aid until 2024. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of South Sudan.

Let me begin by congratulating you, Madam, and your team on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of September. My delegation, as always, stands ready to cooperate with you during your presidency. I would also like to welcome Special Representative Haysom and his team and thank them for their service to the people of South Sudan and for his comprehensive report. My delegation welcomes the Secretary-General’s latest 90-day report on South Sudan (S/2022/689) and thanks him for his understanding of the need for the new road map and the two-year extension to the interim period for the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. My delegation appreciates the fact that in his report the Secretary-General urges the international community to financially support the agreement’s monitoring mechanisms during the extended period and appeals to those friends and partners that withdrew their much-needed funding out of frustration to reconsider their decision. The new road map and extension were inevitable, for there is — as we all know — much that remains in the agreement that was not implemented. Crucially, the people of South Sudan, as well as most actors in the region and the international community, were relieved that all South Sudanese parties signatory to the peace agreement agreed on their own to the road map and to the two-year extension peacefully. The road map gives the parties signatory to the peace agreement in South Sudan another chance to seriously implement all of its provisions and chapters in the next two years. While acknowledging the disappointment and frustration of some of our partners and stakeholders in the peace agreement, we know that the road map gives our international partners and the wider international community another chance to recommit themselves politically and financially in order to avoid the two- years extension being wasted, like it was the past three years. Staying aloof and hoping that the parties signatory to the peace agreement in South Sudan will do the right thing and implement the agreement really is not an option this time. That is why President Salva Kiir Mayardit took the opportunity to once again appeal to those parties holding out to come back home and join in the country’s peacemaking process. In other words, it is a call for inclusivity. A few members of the Council are now playing host to those holdout groups. I think it is time that they ask them to go home and join the peacemaking process. Since the road map was agreed to by all signatories, we have been hearing from our international partners and friends of South Sudan that they would like to see what would be different during the extended period. But the difference that has been asked for will not be much if the parties signatory to the peace agreement in South Sudan are not helped by the international community to overcome the challenges that slowed down the agreement’s timely implementation in the past three years. That is why we consider the road map to be another opportunity for our partners in the international community to get more involved by helping to bring the peace implementation process to a successful end in February 2025. Allow me to digress to a more pressing natural calamity currently affecting the majority of South Sudanese people. I would be remiss if I did not bring to the Council’s attention the devastation that the most recent floods are causing to a vast swath of land in South Sudan. The Secretary-General just returned a few days ago from surveying the terrible floods that have submerged most of Pakistan in the past few weeks. My delegation would like to take this opportunity to express our solidarity with the Government and the people of Pakistan during this difficult time. On behalf of the people and the Government of South Sudan, we offer our prayers and condolences to the victims of the devasting floods in Pakistan. Likewise, as we speak now, thousands of South Sudanese communities and their properties have been uprooted and destroyed by new floods. The affected communities’ areas are no longer just confined to the two states of Jonglei and Unity. This year, most of South Sudan’s 10 states are submerged under water. The new floods have aggravated the situation caused by last year’s floodwaters, which did not completely dry up. As such, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s recent appeal to those people of goodwill — in particular non-governmental organizations, both local and international — to come in with urgent humanitarian assistance for the victims of the devastating floods in our country. While the people of South Sudan are grateful and thankful to the international community for its long- standing humanitarian aid, we would like to take this opportunity to appeal to the Council and, through it, to the rest of the international community, to once again show generosity and give humanitarian support by providing urgently needed relief for the suffering victims of the devastating floods in South Sudan. In conclusion, I would like to thank the members of the Council for their warm welcome and for their kind attention.

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