\n
<\/p>\n
Nicholas Haysom updated ambassadors on developments in the world\u2019s youngest country, which was due to hold its first-ever general elections next month.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since his last briefing in August, the transitional period was extended until February 2027, pushing back the timetable for the vote to December 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was inevitable but a regrettable development given the deep frustration and fatigue felt by the South Sudanese people at the apparent political paralysis and inaction of their leaders to implement the peace agreement\u00a0<\/strong>and deliver the long awaited democratic transition,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n South Sudan gained independence in 2011 but two years later, fighting broke out between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his rival, Vice-President Riek Machar, which left killed hundreds of thousands dead. The 2018 peace deal, known as the Revitalized Agreement, ended the war.\u00a0<\/p>\n In September, the parties announced that the elections would be postponed to December 2026, and the transition period agreed under the accord would be extended by another two years to February 2027.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In the interim, Mr. Haysom, who also heads the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), has been holding intensive discussions with political leaders, civil society, faith-based representatives, youth leaders, women\u2019s coalitions, and international partners.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis has left me in no doubt that, as the Secretary-General has stated, that the only way forward is for South Sudan\u2019s leaders to urgently find the compromises, modes of implementation and take decisive steps required to achieve a critical mass<\/strong> of the key benchmarks set out in the Revitalised Peace Agreement,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n He noted, however, that since the latest extension, implementation of the accord and a 2022 roadmap \u00a0\u201chas yet again been relegated to the back burner while political interests play out at the national level.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Furthermore, a Kenya-led dialogue process aimed at getting non-signatory opposition groups to join the peace agreement also appears to have stalled, though apparently will resume.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cUNMISS has been clear. The clock on South Sudan\u2019s fourth extension has started ticking<\/strong>. It doesn\u2019t reset in February next year when the extended transition begins, it begins now. Otherwise, we could find ourselves in the same predicament in December 2026,\u201d he warned.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis cannot be business as usual for the parties to the peace agreement, the political elite, the guarantors of the peace agreement, or the international community. We must take this opportunity to make this extension the last and deliver the peace and democracy that the people of South Sudan deserve<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The UN Mission has identified six achievable benchmarks which the parties can address immediately.\u00a0 Issues covered include deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF), civic education, preparatory work for voter registration, and developing a code of conduct between political parties, civil society and the media.\u00a0<\/p>\n The envoy recently met with President Kiir to discuss the urgent need for progress, and he also urged the international community to \u201crally around these immediate tasks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n He said UNMISS is moving ahead with assistance to the National Elections Commission while also \u201cdriving initiatives to enhance the civic and political space\u201d. It is also collaborating with 200 civil society organizations across the country to build monitoring alliances and boost civic education and participation in elections observation.<\/p>\n \u201cI need to underscore that our efforts and the current momentum is a product of the strong desire of the South Sudanese people to contribute to their own nation-building project,\u201d he added.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAfter all, these are not \u2018UN elections\u2019 or \u2018foreign elections\u2019 \u2013 these are South Sudan\u2019s first sovereign, post-independence elections.\u201d<\/p>\n Turning to other matters, Mr. Haysom reported on the spike violence at a local level that is emerging as the rainy season ends. The number of civilian casualties during separate incidents in three states \u2013 Upper Nile, Central Equatoria and Warrap \u2013 is alarming, he said.<\/p>\nSteps towards peace<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Appeal for compromise<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
The clock is ticking<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
UN support for elections<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Violence, flooding and humanitarian needs<\/strong><\/h2>\n