S/PV.9564 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 Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations 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/2024/188, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in South Sudan. I now give the floor to Mr. Lacroix. Mr. Lacroix: I thank you, Sir, for the opportunity to brief the Security Council on the report of the Secretary-General (S/2024/188) and my recent visit to South Sudan to make a first-hand assessment of the situation on the ground. During my visit from 19 to the 23 February, I met with President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice-President Riek Machar, together with senior leaders of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity, members of civil society and representatives of the diplomatic community. I undertook a field visit to Kuacjok, in Warrap state, to assess the ongoing intercommunal clashes on either side of the Abyei boundary between the Ngok Dinka and Twic Dinka communities, and visited Abyei, where I consulted with the leadership of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and met with local authorities and community leaders. The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa, Ms. Hanna Tetteh, accompanied me throughout the visits and engagements. With regard to Abyei, while the political process remains stalled, clashes between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities have decreased, with UNISFA continuing to provide support for reconciliation efforts. The mission is now focusing its civilian protection efforts on the southern part of the Abyei box, where tensions involving the Twic Dinka, the Ngok Dinka and Nuer communities have resulted in civilian casualties and displacement, along with the killing of two UNISFA peacekeepers in January. Both the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and UNISFA are committed to working with the Government of South Sudan and the communities concerned to de-escalate tensions and work towards peace. Throughout my visit to South Sudan, I conveyed to my interlocutors that the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan remains the only framework within which the United Nations would support the parties in achieving long-term peace and stability in the country. As I impressed upon everyone, elections must be deemed credible by the people of South Sudan and should be a unifying exercise and not a divisive one. Accordingly, a confluence of political will, methodical planning and adequate resources is necessary to address the aspirations of the people of South Sudan vis-à-vis the elections. As stated in the report of the Secretary-General on South Sudan, the implementation of the peace agreement and the road map remains significantly behind schedule. While the establishment of key institutions of transition, such as the National Constitutional Review Commission, the National Elections Commission and the Political Parties Council, is a step in the right direction, despite the significant delays, those institutions continue to lack adequate resources and expertise to fulfil their mandates. While leaders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement expressed confidence in achieving a critical mass towards the holding of credible elections, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition, including First Vice-President Machar, expressed their doubts and insisted that all prerequisites for elections, particularly the adoption of a permanent constitution and the completion of the transitional security arrangements, must precede the holding of the electoral process. Among the population, there is a strong desire for elections, as well as for peace and stability. A myriad of factors will likely affect elections in South Sudan. A fledgling economy has intensified fights over resources and has led to high levels of unemployment, particularly affecting the youth. In addition, political competition among the ruling elite, increased intercommunal clashes and the added strain inflicted by the influx of returnees and refugees escaping the conflict in the Sudan have all combined towards the assessment that elections, when held, will take place in an environment of elevated tensions and a constrained civic and political space in the country. Therefore, if not managed carefully, they carry the potential for violence, with disastrous consequences for an already fragile country and the wider region. The impact of the conflict in the Sudan deserves special attention. More than two-thirds of South Sudanese citizens remain dependent on international assistance for their for their basic needs, with women and children being the most vulnerable. The South Sudanese economy is overwhelmingly dependent on the oil revenues that will stall should the conflict in the Sudan affect the flow of oil to Port Sudan. Competing global priorities have already curtailed international resources for South Sudan, and the loss of oil revenues in this context could have catastrophic humanitarian and security consequences for the entire region. As I mentioned earlier, the peace agreement remains the only viable framework for achieving peace and stability in South Sudan. While the United Nations has the space and the lead in three of the four pillars of its mandate  — the protection of civilians, human rights reporting and humanitarian assistance  — it is mandated to support the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union when it comes to the peace process and the implementation of the peace agreement. It is therefore imperative to harmonize the United Nations position on key political issues with those of IGAD and the African Union, while maintaining its impartiality and independence. Both IGAD and the African Union have voiced their support for elections in South Sudan, and the United Nations will therefore offer as much support as possible in line with its mandate. It is, however, important to note that the United Nations cannot opine about whether or not South Sudan should have elections but can only assess if the transitional Government has put in place the requisite architecture for elections to be peaceful, credible and in accordance with the terms of the peace agreement. A failure to do that will threaten not only the desired credibility and peacefulness of elections but also the overarching framework  — the peace agreement itself. As things stand, South Sudan is not ready for elections, and a lot needs to be done. But as the Secretary-General’s report states, if the parties display political will and invest adequate resources in a timely manner, credible elections can still take place before the end of the transition period. We must all acknowledge that despite the shortcomings in implementation, the peace agreement did establish a period of stability at the national level, brought opponents who fought two civil wars to the table and enabled them to govern from within a Government of National Unity. It is now time for all to come together to build on that achievement. The peaceful conduct of the elections and the implementation of their outcome should therefore be a shared strategic goal of all stakeholders. Moving forward, the Government of National Unity needs to take urgent measures to provide resources to the institutions of transition, reach political decisions to complete transitional security arrangements and the constitutional review process as a matter of priority and ensure a level playing field that can enable all the parties to participate in elections in a civic and political space that is much more open than the one that currently exists. Legitimacy through elections can be secured only if the people of South Sudan believe that their voices have been heard. They have suffered far too much and for far too long. It is time for them to finally receive the peace dividend they deserve.

I thank Mr. Lacroix for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for his comprehensive briefing today. I also welcome the representative of South Sudan to this meeting. We come together today, three months after Special Representative of the Secretary-General Haysom’s last briefing in December (see S/PV.9507), to see that little has changed since the parties’ failure to implement the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan led to the extension of the transitional period in 2022. Sadly, South Sudan’s leaders have yet to fulfil their commitments to their people. With only one month to go until the Special Representative of the Secretary- General provides the Council with an assessment of its readiness to hold free and fair elections, the transitional Government must act with urgency to implement the critical mass of preparations that the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development identified as necessary for elections to proceed. The United States urges the transitional Government to act with urgency to address the pending election preparations mentioned in the Secretary- General’s report of 26 February (S/2024/188) regarding the Constitution-making process, the type and number of elections, voter registration modalities, the inclusion of displaced people, an integrated election security plan, an election dispute resolution mechanism and an election timeline. In view of the failure of South Sudanese leaders to demonstrate the political will required to hold free and fair elections, the United States reiterates its position that allocating further financial resources for election preparations, absent urgent action by the transitional Government, sends the wrong message. Assessed contributions should not be supporting an electoral process that without urgent action by the transitional Government will not be free, fair or credible. Future funding must be accompanied by a renewed push on the South Sudan peace process and improved humanitarian access. As we stated in December, we want to focus on how the transitional Government is spending its own money. The interruption of oil exports from South Sudan brings into focus how little visibility there is for the people of South Sudan with regard to the transitional Government’s oil revenue and how it is spent. For an electoral process to be credible, we must see the Government devoting its own resources to supporting the electoral institutions it has established. The announcement of budgets for those institutions must be coupled with the actual disbursement of the funds to the National Elections Commission, the Political Parties Council and the National Constitutional Review Commission. As Special Representative Haysom has previously made clear, an open civic and democratic space is essential to a peaceful and credible electoral process. Insecurity in South Sudan continues to be a significant concern for the United States, as intercommunal violence poses the greatest threat to the prospects for conducting credible elections. We are alarmed by the recent intercommunal violence in Warrap state and Abyei, which resulted in the reported killing of 80 civilians and two peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei. We call on the South Sudanese Government to immediately investigate the two peacekeepers’ deaths and hold those responsible accountable. The humanitarian situation also remains a concern. According to the Secretary-General’s recent report on UNMISS, more than 500,000 refugees and returnees have fled to South Sudan. We call on the international community to bolster the efforts of the United Nations and humanitarian organizations to help bridge humanitarian financing and resource gaps. Additionally, we implore the authorities at both the national and subnational levels to undertake all necessary measures to facilitate unhindered humanitarian access and safeguard the welfare of aid personnel engaged in delivery operations. Now is the time for the Government to demonstrate its commitment to free, fair and credible elections, ensure that those responsible for violence are held accountable and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Without a demonstration of its readiness to meet those commitments, the transition Government must bear the responsibility for the consequences that deficiencies will have for the security and prosperity of its citizens.

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for his comprehensive briefing today. I also welcome the presence of the representative of South Sudan at this meeting. At the outset, the Republic of Korea, as a long- standing contributor of troops to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), reaffirms its unwavering support for UNMISS’s work. While we welcome some positive developments in the preparations for the holding of South Sudan’s first post- independence elections, we remain concerned about the fact that the overall implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan has been delayed. In addition to internal challenges, external threats, including the war in its neighbour the Sudan, are exacerbating South Sudan’s already dire security and humanitarian situation. Against that backdrop, I would like to underline four points. First, we stress the role of the Government in creating the conditions conducive to elections. While we look forward to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General’s further assessment in early April of election preparations, we note that the Secretary- General’s report (S/2024/188) underscores the need for adequate funding for key electoral institutions and for swift decisions to be taken on key outstanding issues related to the elections, including who will vote, how they will vote and the type and number of elections. We also encourage the Government of South Sudan to enable a political and civic space that will create a safe environment for the elections. It is particularly important to ensure the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women as candidates, voters and observers throughout the electoral process. We also encourage the Government to accelerate the further deployment of the necessary unified forces to promote greater security. Secondly, we must consider the role of UNMISS in addressing subnational and intercommunal violence. While elections can be critical moments for national unity, they also pose potential dangers, as electoral grievances can exacerbate existing conflicts or trigger new violence. In addition, floods and droughts caused by climate change also fuel intercommunal conflicts. We encourage UNMISS to continue its efforts to facilitate peace dialogues among community leaders and between farmers and herders to de-escalate tensions and promote peaceful coexistence. Thirdly, we must understand the deteriorating humanitarian situation. Nearly 9 million people — three quarters of South Sudan’s population — are in need of humanitarian assistance. Moreover, 5.8 million people are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity. Furthermore, by the end of February, some 600,000 people had crossed into South Sudan since the start of the conflict in the Sudan last April. That further strains the humanitarian system, which was already struggling with limited national infrastructure. We encourage UNMISS to work with international humanitarian organizations to ensure safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access. For its part, the international community should scale up its humanitarian assistance. To that end, the Republic of Korea is implementing a resilience-building project in the education, health and water sectors in South Sudan, in coordination with UNICEF. Fourthly, we must help build trust with the local people through civil-military coordination activities. The Republic of Korea’s engineering battalion — the Hanbit Unit — as part of UNMISS, actively supports and engages with the local population, including by rebuilding the road between the capital, Juba, and the town of Bor, where Korean troops are stationed. They also teach locals how to grow rice, and they provide various vocational training, including construction and carpentry. They also provide classes in the Korean martial art, Taekwondo. Despite the ongoing challenges South Sudan has made some meaningful progress since its independence in 2011, with the active engagement of the Security Council and the international community. It is now at a critical juncture, ahead of its first nationwide elections. It must be steered and supported in the right direction in order to become a success story of international engagement, rather than a missed opportunity. As a reliable partner of South Sudan, the Republic of Korea will actively participate in the efforts of the Security Council and the international community to achieve that goal.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+, namely, Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone and my own country, Mozambique. We thank Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under- Secretary-General for Peace Operations, for his briefing this morning. We also extend our gratitude to Mr. Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and his entire team for the commendable efforts to consolidate peace, stability and development in South Sudan. We welcome the participation of the representative of South Sudan in this meeting. We note that the past few months have witnessed some progress in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. Measures have been adopted to operationalize key institutions, such as the National Constitutional Review Commission, National Elections Commission and the Political Parties Council. There was a clear effort to achieve the 35 per cent requirement of female representation. Those steps are a strong expression of the commitment of the South Sudanese authorities to the Agreement and to the creation of the necessary conditions for holding elections in December 2024. Despite the slow progress, we welcome the continued deployment of the necessary unified forces, a critical component for the completion of the transitional security arrangements. We do recognize that much more needs to be done in order to implement the road map of August 2022 and to achieve the key benchmarks agreed upon by the parties in September 2018. In that context, we call on the South Sudanese stakeholders to honour their commitments and expedite the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement. We encourage the parties to constructively engage and agree on the specifics of the necessary pre-election preparations needed, with practical and realistic steps, in order to hold the elections as scheduled. That includes ensuring funding for the key institutions charged with preparing for the polls. The A3+ also calls upon the non-signatory actors to choose the path of peace and to engage, in good faith, in a genuine, responsible and constructive dialogue with the Government of South Sudan. We appeal to the international community to continue its support for South Sudanese efforts in pursuit of its democratic endeavours. In that vein, we welcome the ministerial meeting of the members of the African Union High-level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan (C5), which decided to conduct a ministerial visit to South Sudan. They reaffirmed the unwavering support of the C5 to facilitate the successful implementation of the Revitalized Agreement. While we are focused on preparations for elections, we must bear in mind that South Sudan is currently home to more than 500,000 returnees and refugees, due to the conflict taking place in the Sudan. That situation is already creating tension and straining diminishing resources within the host communities. Moreover, we must be mindful of the fact that South Sudan is cyclically affected by climate-induced shocks. That increases competition for access to resources and the fuelling of intercommunal violence in some regions. In the Abyei region, for example, reported recent attacks have resulted in deaths, injuries and destruction of property. It is important to bear in mind that this is happening against a backdrop of an already dire humanitarian crisis that is significantly affecting the well-being of the people of this new nation and may compromise their future. We therefore reiterate our call for increased humanitarian assistance to South Sudan to alleviate the suffering of its most vulnerable citizens. In that context, development partners, including the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme and donor countries, are encouraged to maintain and scale up their support to the Government of South Sudan to address the spiralling downturn in the country’s economy during this critical phase of the transitional period. While acknowledging the need for the Council to reflect on the scope of the UNMISS mandate, the A3+1 highly commends the Mission for its efforts to implement its mandate, in particular through its support to the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement, the protection of civilians, the mitigation of violence and assistance to humanitarian aid, despite the challenging environment in South Sudan. Similarly, we encourage UNMISS to strengthen its technical assistance to the South Sudanese authorities, particularly in the control and management of small arms, light weapons and ammunition, taking into account the implications that the arms embargo could have for the completion of the transitional security arrangements. The A3+1 would like to express its profound gratitude to the troop- and police-contributing countries for their sacrifices in support of the peace and stability of South Sudan. We hope that their commendable efforts will continue to pave the way for lasting peace and security in South Sudan.

I thank Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix for his briefing and welcome the representative of South Sudan to today’s meeting. Ecuador condemns the attacks reported in Warrap state and the Abyei region that have left civilians and Blue Helmets dead and many wounded, including staff of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei. We want to express our condolences to the families of the victims and our solidarity with them. The humanitarian situation in South Sudan is one of the worst in the world. Not only do three quarters of the population require assistance, but there is also a lack of resources and security for humanitarian personnel. The situation of nearly 2 million people, most of them women and children, has reached the most severe levels of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. More than 500,000 people have fled the conflict in South Sudan, joining the more than 2.2 million internally displaced, who are competing for scarce available resources, leading to greater conflict. While it is crucial that the international community support South Sudan in addressing this serious situation, the authorities must also guarantee security and unfettered access for humanitarian personnel. While progress has been noted in rebuilding key institutions such as the National Elections Commission and the Political Parties Council, ensuring their proper operations and financing is essential if credible and peaceful elections are to be guaranteed in December. The Constitution-drafting process, electoral arrangements and the modalities for voter registration are among the critical issues requiring immediate attention. Progress must also be made on the electoral legislation process, pursuant to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, in an environment that is conducive to free civic political discourse. That process not only requires financial resources, but it also it requires political will. Turning to the issue of security, we are concerned about the content of the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on South Sudan regarding the high numbers of attacks on civilians, deaths, kidnappings, arbitrary arrests, sexual violence and the recruitment of children (A/HRC/55/26). We must urgently address the alarming increase in violence and protect the women and girls who have been affected. Ecuador underscores the importance of the recommendations put forward by the Informal Experts Group on Women, Peace and Security following their recent visit to South Sudan, especially those aimed at strengthening the legal framework for women’s rights, in particular for victims of sexual and gender-based violence and women refugees and returnees, ensuring their empowerment as potential candidates and preventing gender-based violence in the electoral process. I want to conclude by saying that the challenges facing South Sudan require our collective commitment and unwavering determination to promote lasting peace and stability in the region. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has done important work in that regard. My delegation therefore fully supports the renewal of UNMISS’s mandate in order to ensure that it can continue its work.

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for his briefing and to welcome the participation of the representative of South Sudan in today’s meeting. As South Sudan approaches a pivotal moment in its young history, a peaceful and orderly transition is crucial. Success in holding its inaugural democratic elections is an integral part of that process. The work to be done in the next few months will be key to laying the groundwork for stability, democratic governance and lasting peace. Let me address three points in that respect. First, the timely implementation of key benchmarks in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan is of critical importance. Preparations for the elections planned for December, as well as the drafting of a permanent Constitution, must remain a priority. Slovenia encourages South Sudan to swiftly operationalize its electoral institutions and agree on crucial elements for credible elections in December, including a political code of conduct and voter registration. We welcome the Government’s decision to allocate the funding but remain concerned about the lack of distribution of the resources needed for the electoral institutions and the necessary technical arrangements for conducting free, fair and credible elections. It is essential that the voices of civil society, especially women and young people, be heard and taken into account. The minimum quota commitment for women in transitional and executive bodies, as allocated in the peace agreement, must be respected. The full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women is crucial. Their participation as voters and as candidates in all phases of the electoral process must be ensured. Secondly, we are deeply concerned about the continued violence, particularly in the Upper Nile and greater Equatoria regions, as well as in the areas along the border between Warrap state and the Abyei region. We call for community-based reconciliation initiatives and emphasize the need for support for grass-roots peacebuilding efforts to address the root causes and drivers of violence. We are alarmed by the persistent violations of human rights, including sexual and gender-based violence and attacks on civilians. Grave violations against children continue to persist. Displaced women and children are the most at risk. The prevention of conflict-related sexual violence, together with adequate response services, must be prioritized. Accountability must be ensured. We continue to urge the Government to take decisive actions to ensure justice for victims and survivors. We commend the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for supporting the strengthening of the capacity of the national justice system and the deployment of mobile courts. As the first cases and sentencing show, those courts are an important step towards combating impunity and sending a strong signal of no tolerance to perpetrators. Thirdly, the humanitarian situation remains alarming. The escalating conflict in the Sudan, coupled with severe climate-induced risks, are exacerbating the already dire situation. We commend South Sudan’s efforts in providing refuge to those fleeing hostilities in the Sudan, demonstrating solidarity amid its own complex challenges. Ensuring the safety of humanitarian aid workers and medical personnel remains paramount. We condemn any attacks on them in the strongest terms. We call on all parties to respect international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law, and to ensure safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, including through clear, fast and straightforward administrative procedures. We commend UNMISS for its role in providing protective escorts to humanitarian partners, which is crucial for timely aid distribution. Slovenia once again reiterates its full support to UNMISS, especially for its assistance in effective implementation of the road map and focused efforts on the protection of civilians. We also thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Haysom for his commitment to support the people and the Government of South Sudan. Finally, we call on South Sudan to adhere to the status-of-forces agreement by removing any barriers to the swift and effective operation of UNMISS, underscoring the importance of free and unrestricted movement for UNMISS to effectively fulfil its mission.

I thank Under-Secretary- General Lacroix for his briefing. We also welcome the representative of South Sudan to this meeting. South Sudan will soon reach a pivotal moment, with the country envisaged to hold elections in less than nine months. Malta supports all ongoing efforts towards maintaining that objective. We welcome the recent developments in the National Constitutional Review Commission, the Political Parties Council and the National Election Commission. We remain concerned, however, that those three bodies are yet to be adequately funded or resourced. Malta reiterates the centrality of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan and calls for progress on the road map and accompanying benchmarks. Safe and inclusive civic and political spaces are essential components to ensure that the people of South Sudan can participate in an environment that is conducive to fair, credible and peaceful elections. We welcome support by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to those electoral endeavours, including on the draft code of conduct for political parties in partnership with the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, as well as induction workshops for new members serving in those bodies. While we acknowledge the increased participation of women in constitutional and electoral processes, we urge all political parties to ensure their full, equal, meaningful and safe participation. Regional and subregional mechanisms and networks, such as the African Women Leaders Network, can play an important role in supporting South Sudanese women in those processes. As the gradual deployment of the necessary unified forces continues, we further underline the necessity that the second batch of cohorts be deployed in a timely manner, with sufficient food, water, medicine and shelter. Malta remains gravely concerned by the security situation in South Sudan. That is further exacerbated by the conflict in the Sudan, severe climate-related risks that threaten grazing lands and water resources, and persistent intercommunal violence. We are also concerned about the recent armed mobilizations in Jonglei and Warrap states, which could result in acts of violence and lives lost. We support engagements, facilitated by UNMISS, to de-escalate tensions and promote reconciliation. Malta strongly condemns all human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law. Those include sexual- and gender- based violence and the six grave violations committed against children. Impunity for sexual violence cannot be tolerated. In that regard, we commend the recent work by the mobile court in Unity state. On that note, we call on the South Sudanese Government to update the country’s legal framework on conflict-related sexual violence. We also recall the importance of child protection focal points from parties to conflict and support the United Nations and the National Technical Committee’s commitment towards capacity-building. With an estimated 5.78 million people projected to be at risk of acute food insecurity, South Sudan’s already dire humanitarian needs are further compromised by more than a half a million people arriving from the Sudan and the risks associated with climate change. Diversified funding needs to reach those most in need, and to that end, the European Union contributed €82 million in 2023. Malta strongly supports the valuable role played by UNMISS in engendering trust among and within communities. Freedom of movement is not negotiable when responding to incidents and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance. We therefore commend the swift response by peacekeepers to a recent incident on UNMISS grounds. We use this occasion to also condemn any attacks on United Nations premises and personnel, including humanitarian personnel. In conclusion, it is only with political will and commitment that the pursuit of peace and security in South Sudan can be achieved. Malta stands by that pursuit and by the people of South Sudan.

I thank Under- Secretary-General Lacroix for his briefing. I also welcome the participation of the representative of South Sudan at our meeting. Let me begin by praising Special Representative of the Secretary-General Haysom and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for their tireless efforts in protecting and assisting the people of South Sudan in challenging and often dangerous circumstances. The picture in South Sudan remains bleak. The young country has witnessed terrible violence since independence. The South Sudanese authorities need to take every measure to prevent it from descending into violence again. We call on the Government of South Sudan to mitigate that risk by demonstrating true political will and urgently taking the necessary steps to deliver credible, peaceful and inclusive elections. To date, very limited progress has been made. We welcome the fact that members of both the National Constitutional Review Commission and the National Elections Commission have now been sworn in. We call on the Government of South Sudan to disperse the allocated resources to enable that crucial work to get under way. We further urge the South Sudanese authorities to take immediate action on the critical political decisions as set out by UNMISS. Those steps include voter registration, agreeing the type of election to be called, drafting a permanent constitution and the implementation of the necessary parts of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, including the deployment of the necessary unified forces. Candidates and parties need to be able to campaign freely without threat. Therefore, we call on the South Sudanese Government to protect civic and political spaces as cornerstones of a functioning democracy. Elections would represent a historic moment for the South Sudanese people who have yet to enjoy the benefits of peace. Subnational armed conflict, the effects of climate change and displacement from the Sudan have resulted in an appalling humanitarian crisis. The United Kingdom recognizes the South Sudanese Government’s efforts to support arrivals from the Sudan and notes the stress that is placing on communities and resources. We call on the South Sudanese Government to provide a conducive environment for the delivery of aid, to remove bureaucratic impediments and to prevent attacks on aid workers. In conclusion, a huge task lies ahead. The people of South Sudan deserve peace, democracy and a Government that is accountable to them.

We would like to thank Mr. Jean- Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, for his briefing. We also welcome the participation of the representative of South Sudan in today’s meeting. We have carefully read the Secretary-General’s report on the situation in South Sudan (S/2024/188). We note that it rightly emphasizes the humanitarian issues, which are worsening with the growing numbers of refugees and returnees from its neighbour Sudan, a figure that according to the latest data now exceeds 560,000, in an influx that is increasing instability. That is why it is important that the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the other United Nations agencies working in South Sudan step up their humanitarian assistance efforts. The South Sudanese cannot cope alone with that difficult task, which requires material support and expertise. Another continuing area of concern for South Sudan is intercommunal violence. Although there has been no overall deterioration of the situation, the sporadic clashes in various parts of the country are cause for concern. It is important to be aware that such clashes are not so much ethnic as they are economic in nature, and they are the result of disputes over lucrative land and the control of trade flows, especially around Juba. We see the need here for a more involved role for UNMISS peacekeepers in curbing intercommunal violence and helping to create capable unified forces. The South Sudanese leadership is ready to cooperate on the issue, as evidenced by the deployment of limited contingents of the unified forces in a number of states. Ultimately, ensuring the self-sufficiency of the national unified armed forces will be key to a successful political process in South Sudan. The sanctions regime in South Sudan is a significant obstacle to achieving that priority goal. It makes it difficult to deploy and equip the army properly and to strengthen State security structures. We are categorically against using Security Council sanctions to exert pressure or interfere in internal affairs, or to supplement them with illegal unilateral restrictive measures. On a separate note, I would like to touch on the International Civil Aviation Organization’s decision to declare a significant safety concern regarding flights, which applies only to aircraft with dual registration and should not be expanded to Russian aviation. We regret the Secretariat’s decision to expand that safety concern to include the use of Russian helicopters, as a result of which that equipment, which is indispensable to South Sudan, is now inaccessible to UNMISS. Finding an alternative to those practical vehicles is a serious problem. The result is that the logistics, provision and safety of the Mission are suffering from our Western colleagues’ arbitrary actions. We would like to underscore that United Nations peacekeeping operations should have all the resources they need to carry out their mandate. We should give due credit to the efforts of the South Sudanese authorities, with the assistance of UNMISS, to provide training, implement humanitarian response programmes, establish intercommunal dialogue and facilitate the nation-building process, including financial and political support for elections. Against the backdrop of the difficulties facing South Sudan, the political process in the country as a whole is making progress. In addition to the already-formed regional Governments, the transitional Parliament and a national human rights council, the National Elections Commission have been sworn in and legislation on political parties has been prepared, with the parties expected to draft a code of conduct in the near future. At the same time, some benchmarks in the preparations for the elections indicate that the process is behind schedule. We trust that the South Sudanese authorities will speed up their implementation as much as possible. With the understanding that the benchmarks are not externally imposed criteria, but points agreed on by the signatories to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, one important point  — the quality of the preparation and conduct of elections  — is being overlooked. Of course the deadlines are important. However, it is even more important to form stable and responsible State institutions that enjoy the trust of the South Sudanese themselves. It is that criterion, rather than Juba’s adherence to a not entirely clear “critical mass” of measures for implementing the political process, that should be decisive. Our shared task is not to wait for the South Sudanese people to fail to hold elections so as to then criticize and punish them, but to work together to assist them in that difficult process, which would mark the successful completion of the transition period. Ultimately, if the South Sudan authorities realize that the deadlines will have to be moved in the interests of ensuring quality elections, that option is provided for in the Revitalized Agreement. Of course, that would require a consensus decision by all political forces. The successful holding of elections, completion of the transition period and stabilization of the country are first and foremost the responsibilities of the South Sudanese themselves. We are confident that they are capable of developing the ways to build the political process and determine the fate of their country that suits them.

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Jean- Pierre Lacroix for his briefing and to welcome the representative of South Sudan. I want to emphasize three points. The first is about the elections. Both the 27 February report of the tripartite mechanism of the United Nations, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Secretary-General’s latest report (S/2024/188) make it clear that with eight months to go, key elements in the preparations for the elections are still missing. That is all the more concerning given that many of those measures will take time to come to fruition. I am thinking in particular of the training and redeployment of the necessary unified forces and the strengthening of electoral institutions. We call on the authorities to show political will and to mobilize the resources needed for organizing the elections, in particular to ensure the proper functioning of the three electoral bodies. In that regard, we welcomed the appointment at the beginning of January of all the members of those three institutions and the respect for the requirement of 35 per cent female representation within them. We also encourage the authorities to engage with all parties to reach a consensus that safeguards the gains of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, in line with the recommendations of the African Union and IGAD. It is essential that the opposition and civil society be able to participate in the electoral process. The second point concerns cooperation with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). We encourage South Sudan to continue its cooperation with UNMISS, as the United Nations will inevitably have a key role to play during the electoral period. That cooperation has improved over the years, which we welcome. However, we are concerned about the recent incidents involving the South Sudanese security forces targeting United Nations personnel. We call on the authorities to do everything possible to avoid those tensions, particularly in the run-up to the elections. More broadly, instability and insecurity in South Sudan remain a major concern. France is alarmed by the continued intercommunal and political conflicts across the country. In that context, we reiterate our support for the recommendations made by the Secretary-General in his report on the UNMISS mandate to protect civilians. My third point is about the conflict in the Sudan. We are concerned about its impact on the humanitarian situation and on stability in South Sudan, especially with the increasing numbers of refugees. Together with the European Union and Germany, France will hold a humanitarian conference in Paris on 15 April for the Sudan and its neighbours with the aim of responding to the needs of the civilian population. In 2023 Europe provided €91 million in humanitarian aid to South Sudan. For its part, France has contributed €55 million to the humanitarian response to the Sudanese crisis, including €7 million earmarked for projects in South Sudan. We welcome South Sudan’s willingness to receive refugees, with the support of the United Nations. France and the European Union will continue to stand in solidarity with the countries of the region.

I thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for his briefing and welcome the presence of the representative of South Sudan at this meeting. This year is of great significance for South Sudan in terms of promoting a political transition and peaceful development. China believes that the international community should increase its support in three areas. First, we should provide constructive support for the political process in South Sudan. For some time now, the South Sudanese authorities have been actively preparing for the general elections, promoting the efforts of the National Elections Commission and the National Constitutional Review Commission, among other bodies, to carry out their work and continuing to deploy the unified forces. Those achievements are visible to all. China supports the parties in accelerating the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan and the key benchmarks of the road map extending the transitional period, with a view to creating conditions that are conducive to a political transition and the holding of general elections. We welcome the convening of the ministerial meeting of the African Union Ad Hoc High-Level Committee for South Sudan on the margins of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union and the statement issued by the Committee, and we encourage the trilateral mechanism  — consisting of the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)  — to provide more support to the political process in the country. It should be pointed out that elections are South Sudan’s internal affair. The country is currently facing many practical difficulties in promoting a political transition and preparing for the general elections. The international community should continue to be patient and engage with South Sudan while fully respecting the country’s sovereignty and ownership. In particular, the international community should draw lessons from the recent turmoil in some African countries and refrain from intervening in South Sudan’s internal affairs by pressuring it or pushing for a democratic transition, which would not contribute to long-term stability and could instead cause new turbulence. Secondly, we should provide tangible assistance to South Sudan in strengthening its capacity- building in the security sector. There have recently been a number of security incidents in Jonglei and Warrap states and the Western Bahr El Ghazal basin, including intercommunal clashes and the looting of livestock, which have posed a threat to South Sudan’s overall security. China welcomed President Kiir Mayardit’s presidential decree on the de-escalation of intercommunal conflicts and supports the Government of South Sudan in continuing to promote peaceful reconciliation among communities and to address the root causes of conflicts. The international community and UNMISS should prioritize support for the South Sudanese authorities in strengthening their capacity- building in the security sector and assuming the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians. It should be pointed out that the arms embargo has had a long-term negative impact on the South Sudan’s security capacity-building. The Security Council should heed the calls of South Sudan and other African countries and lift the sanctions on South Sudan as soon as possible. The conflict in the Sudan has led to a large influx of refugees into South Sudan, exacerbating the current humanitarian crisis in the country and posing potential security risks. International partners should help South Sudan to respond to the humanitarian crisis and mitigate the spillover effects of the Sudanese conflict on South Sudan and other neighbouring countries, with a view to maintaining common regional security. Thirdly, UNMISS should focus on its core mandate and play its role effectively. The Council is currently considering the renewal of UNMISS’s mandate. China will participate constructively in the consultations on the relevant draft resolution and will continue to support the work of UNMISS and that of the Special Representative. At the same time, in recent years a certain country has been pushing for expanding the Mission’s mandate, including by overemphasizing the use of force as a means for protecting civilians. That not only interferes with the primary responsibility and mandate of peacekeeping operations but also increases the strain on the resources at UNMISS’s disposal. China hopes that the Security Council will engage with UNMISS in a manner that will ensure that it focuses on its core functions as a peacekeeping operation and that its assigned tasks meet the needs and priorities of the host country, so that the Mission can play its role effectively.

I thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for his briefing and welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of South Sudan in today’s meeting. Since our previous meeting on this topic in December (see S/PV.9507), very limited progress has been made towards credible and peaceful elections. While the people of the South Sudan are hoping that the elections will take place as soon as possible, legitimate concerns remain as to the country’s preparedness to hold them as scheduled. We recognize that the organization of elections is a South Sudanese process, and we encourage the Government to continue its efforts to ensure a transparent and peaceful electoral process. I would like to reiterate three priorities in that regard. First, progress must be made urgently in implementing the key benchmarks that the parties themselves have agreed on. It is essential to provide greater clarity on the electoral process and to build a free and safe civic and political space in order to ensure credible and peaceful elections. Women’s participation is key in that regard. A number of priority measures were identified during the visit to South Sudan in December by members of the Informal Experts Group on Women, Peace and Security, co-chaired by Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. They include ensuring women’s representation at a minimum of 35 per cent, in accordance with the provisions of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, empowering women candidates, including in rural areas, and preventing gender-based and conflict-related sexual violence. Secondly, the establishment of a safe and secure environment must be ensured. The full implementation of the transitional security arrangements is essential to ensuring safe elections. We are concerned both about the continuing violence at the subnational level and the increase in the recruitment of children, an issue that was recently raised at the meeting of the Group of Friends on Children and Armed Conflict, held jointly in New York and Juba. The comprehensive action plan is a key instrument in that regard, and it will be important to renew it in April. In addition, we encourage the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to continue prioritizing a more proactive and agile approach to protection in order to enhance the protection of civilians, especially children. Thirdly, we must mitigate the grave humanitarian situation, which has worsened as a result of the increasing effects of the catastrophic conflict in the Sudan on its neighbours and the region generally. The influx into South Sudan of more than half a million people so far is likely to heighten existing economic, social and political tensions. The conflict has also worsened the already-serious food insecurity situation, which has been exacerbated by the effects of climate change. The humanitarian and protection needs keep growing, and a situation that is already tense, thanks to the continuing violence in the country, is likely to deteriorate further. Rapid and unhindered humanitarian access must be allowed and facilitated. The attack on a humanitarian convoy in Jonglei a month ago reminds us that South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous countries for the very people delivering such vital assistance. Humanitarian personnel are protected by international humanitarian law and must not be targeted. We encourage the parties to engage in constructive dialogue with a view to reaching a consensus on the way forward. We share the concerns about the risks to the transition if those decisions are not taken as a matter of urgency. That is why we believe it is important for the Security Council to continue to give the transition the attention and constructive support it needs in the coming months. I would like to reiterate Switzerland’s full support for the trilateral mechanism consisting of the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and UNMISS, as well as our firm commitment to the Government and the efforts of the people of South Sudan to achieve democratic, legitimate governance and a lasting peace.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Japan. I thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for his insightful briefing. Japan takes note of the recent report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), which describes progress and challenges in South Sudan in a comprehensive manner (S/2024/188). Japan would like to thank all UNMISS personnel for their service in protecting civilians and mitigating violence in a challenging environment. As a troop-contributing country, Japan is committed to its continued deployments to UNMISS. A critical juncture is approaching in South Sudan, with the general elections scheduled for December. Japan would like to make three points on how this momentum can be navigated peacefully and constructively. First, while there has been some progress in preparations for the general elections, we remain deeply concerned that the process is still delayed. The failure to hold free, fair, credible and peaceful elections could lead to the refusal to accept the election results and a resurgence of conflict. Given the limited time remaining, we strongly call on the transitional Government to strengthen its engagement with other political forces, with a view to resolving remaining concerns, as soon as possible, and to allocating adequate resources to relevant institutions so that they can be fully operational. In addition, we underline that it is crucial to ensure free and inclusive political and civic space. Japan will continue its technical assistance so that the election to be held in December will be free, fair, credible and peaceful. We commend UNMISS’ efforts to mitigate local tensions, including facilitation between local authorities and civil society. We also hope that UNMISS will further enhance the implementation of its mandate to provide technical assistance for the holding of the elections. Secondly, the security situation may well further deteriorate owing to the influx of returnees and refugees from the Sudan and the decrease in funding for humanitarian assistance. We urge the transitional Government to further accelerate its efforts to address the local drivers of conflict, including through ensuring the implementation of the transitional security arrangements and delivery of peace dividends. We also hope that UNMISS will further enhance the implementation of its protection of civilians mandate. At the same time, we call on the international community to once again recognize and pay more attention to the fact that South Sudan is at a time of momentous change. Thirdly, we express our readiness to work constructively towards the renewal of the UNMISS mandate. Since the mandate must take into account the elections, we believe that it is necessary to properly assess and accurately reflect the state of the preparations for the elections. In conclusion, Japan remains appreciative of the continuous efforts made by UNMISS, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union and reiterates its strong commitment to the people of South Sudan and their aspirations for peace and prosperity. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of South Sudan.

South Sudan takes this opportunity to congratulate you, Sir, on your country’s presidency of the Security Council for the month of March, and we assure you of our delegation’s full support and cooperation. I convey to the members of the Security Council warm greetings from His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit on behalf of the people of South Sudan. South Sudan expresses its gratitude for the opportunity to address the Council in this open briefing on the situation in our country. We value the cooperative efforts and commitment of the United Nations and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in fostering peace and stability. We also appreciate Under-Secretary-General Lacroix’s insights into the developments, as well as his visit to South Sudan last month. South Sudan remains committed to working closely with UNMISS to address the challenges outlined and to ensure the well-being and security of its citizens. Before I dive into our statement, I would like to quickly run through a quick history of the struggle for South Sudan, which dates back to the 1950s, shortly after the independence of the Sudan. In 1955, our people started the liberation movement, then known as the Anyanya I and the Anyanya II. Our forefathers fought the Sudan regime until 1972, ending with the Addis Ababa agreement, which marked a significant moment in our history, especially addressing the needs of the then-southern Sudan region. However, despite the initial optimism, the Sudan’s decision to officially declare itself as an Arab Islamic State, to be governed by sharia-based laws, led to the third Sudanese civil war in 1983, ending with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. That Agreement paved the way for the 2010 referendum, resulting in South Sudan’s independence in 2011. However, since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on 9 January 2005, the southern Government has faced and dealt with many unknown factors, starting with the death of leader John Garang in an aeroplane crash in 2005, and, only three years later, another plane crash that took the lives of our senior government officials, advisers and the then- Minister of Defence for the southern Sudan region. In 2008, Abyei, known for the mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), which has been mentioned, faced an issue involving the Sudan Government that led the two countries into a dispute. In 2010, other issues occurred in the Abyei Area and led to a widening of the mandate of UNISFA, and Abyei continues to remain an issue to this day. In 2011, we gained our independence. In 2012, conflicts that remained unresolved by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement led the two countries into another crisis, which led to the shut-down of oil production in 2012 and skirmishes in one of the regions of South Sudan. In 2013, one of our Chiefs — Chief Kuol Deng Kuol Arop — was also killed in a UNISFA convoy, which was, at the time, in the Sudan region. The same year, we entered into the civil war, which we are discussing at this meeting. In 2014, we started the negotiations. In 2015, we reached a peace deal. As we heard, in 2016, skirmishes took place in the presidential palace. In 2018, the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan was reached. In 2019, the Government and the opposition group negotiated a deal on how the latter could enter back into the Government of South Sudan. In February 2020, Mr. Riek Machar, the main opposition leader, entered South Sudan. In March 2020, the world went into lockdown due to the coronavirus disease. In 2022, the lockdown measures were lifted, allowing for the Government to then begin the process of training our unified forces. In 2023 the forces were deployed and the National Elections Commission was established. I briefly mentioned those points of the history of South Sudan to truly draw attention to the efforts by the Government of South Sudan in maintaining its sanity in the face of all the obstacles that it has faced along the way, as well as to inform the Council that the leaders today in South Sudan are also facing their own internal struggles, as they were same people who fought the wars I mentioned earlier. Nation-building is never an easy task. It takes a lot, it goes through many stages, and, at times, it faces setbacks due to tensions and political instability, which greatly affect development and security. For that reason, I will say that any ongoing international involvement should be to support stability and address the true complex challenges faced by South Sudan. The critical situation in South Sudan, a nation that has endured years of conflict, displacement and suffering, is not easy to see. However, if Council members want to know what does the type of person who has gone through what I just mentioned look like, I honestly ask them to look at me. I was born in 1983 in Khartoum as an internally displaced person, exactly three years after the formation of the SPLM/SPLA. I grew up knowing insecurity and struggle as the norm. In fact my sister, who follows me, is named “the girl of struggle”, not for the movement, but for the hunger that we faced in the 1990s. Therefore, as we strive for lasting peace, we recognize the important role that the United Nations and our global partners play in supporting our journey toward stability and prosperity. My family left Khartoum to migrate to Egypt, where I officially became a refugee. Thanks to the generosity of the American Government its people, my family took part in a resettlement programme in the United States in 1999, when 3 families of the Calvary Chapel church in Boise, Idaho, accepted to sponsor our family of seven. That is how I have been able to study and give back to the home I was forced to leave. I am a perfect example of struggle, instability and insecurity, but, above all, I am also a perfect example of what it look like when the human family stand together during crisis. Believe me when I say that we need to protect this peace at all costs. In that connection, we would like to present several points for the Council’s consideration. First, technical support and capacity-building is truly needed by the Government of South Sudan. Our institutions, security forces and our economic development must be strengthened. Secondly, humanitarian assistance and resilience programmes are also needed, specifically with regard to food security, health care, education and resilience-building. Thirdly, we must promote healing and reconciliation because South Sudan has suffered from decades of conflict, leaving deep scars within our communities. We call for sustained efforts in trauma healing, reconciliation dialogue and justice and accountability. Addressing human rights violations through reconciliation processes will promote healing. Fourthly, there must be support for the political process and continued dialogue. We seek the Organization’s support in electoral reforms; inclusive politics, which means encouraging the political participation of all groups and promoting dialogue among political actors; and civil society engagement, as strengthening our civil society organizations will enhance the democratic processes. In conclusion, South Sudan stands at a historical moment once again. By working together, we can transform South Sudan, a land once torn by conflict, into a beacon of hope, resilience and prosperity. Let us reaffirm our commitment to peace and build a brighter future for all South Sudanese people. I am speaking from my own experience and, for that reason, I am not ready to have another generation undergo the same. Enough is enough, for the South Sudanese people have struggled enough and our leaders are doing their level best with the little experience they have.

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.