DAVID SHEARER: DELAY IN R-ARCIS IMPLEMENTATION COULD AFFECT ELECTIONS

Outgoing UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), David Shearer, said on Tuesday that continued delay in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement may affect elections timeline in the world’s youngest country which are due at the end of the transitional period in 2022.

Shearer, who was addressing journalists at the UN House in Tongpiny, also said the delay in the implementation of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement is paving ways for peace spoilers to exploit local tensions and fuel conflict in South Sudan.

“I think we all agree the pace of implementation has been far too slow and that has heightened doubt and frustration. It could put in jeopardy the plan to hold elections at the end of the transitional period and it has opened opportunities for peace spoilers to exploit local tensions and fuel conflict,” the outgoing UN envoy said.

“I think we all agree the pace of implementation has been far too slow and that has heightened doubt and frustration. It could put in jeopardy the plan to hold elections at the end of the transitional period and it has opened opportunities for peace spoilers to exploit local tensions and fuel conflict,” the outgoing UN envoy said.

Between January to July 2020, the UNMISS said it documented 575 incidents of sub-national violence which include the killing of 600 people in Jonglei State and kidnapping of women and children.

Shearer expressed deep concerns over recent increase in sub-national violence in Maban, Warrap, Jonglei and Akoko, saying it is bad for the stability of the country.

“We are following up on the Jonglei conference that the government hosted, to look at the root causes of the conflict, particularly by bringing local youth and church leaders together,” he said.

He said that UNMISS is looking at innovative ways of deploying its troops in seven areas to mitigate the issues of subnational violence in the country.

The outgoing Chief revealed plans of the UNMISS troops arriving in hotspot Romic- Warrap State in the next few days, having tried in the last few weeks to access the area which is blocked on the ground due to insecurity.

The Outgoing Chief also added that the organization is working at renovating feeder roads across the country, utilizing the advantage during this dry season.

“UNMISS engineers from seven different countries are taking advantage of the dry season to build and improve 3,200 kilometers of roads across the country. This includes opening the Bor to Pibor road that will help enhance peace between Murle, Dinka, and Nuer communities. Work is also starting on a road that will link the Sudan border to Bentiu then south to Rumbek, to increase trade and prosperity for people living in poor and isolated areas in Unity”, he said”, Improving roads boosts connections and communication between regions; it increases trade and jobs but, most significantly, creates opportunities to reconcile and build peace. That certainly has been our experience. So, our engineering work is doing as much to promote peace as a lot of the reconciliation efforts because they build that infrastructure and network between people,” added the Chief.

David Shearer leaves his position having served since 13th December 2016, after succeeding Ellen Margrethe Løj of Denmark. His next successor is yet to be announced.