SOUTH SUDAN / NEW MANDATE

At a ceremony marking the international day of UN peacekeepers, the mission’s top official there said that “through thick and thin our commitment will remain steadfast, to help the resilient people of the world’s youngest nation out of the current crisis.” UNMISS

 

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:34
• Production Date: 29 May 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN – UNMISS
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY; REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: SOUTH SUDAN
• MAMS Id: 1056766

Description

STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / NEW MANDATE
TRT: 2.34
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 29 MAY 2014, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, UN and South Sudan flags
2. Med shot, flags
3. Med shot, peacekeepers seated
4. Med shot, peacekeepers
5. Wide shot, Hilde Johnson, force commander and Police commissioner seated
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Hilde Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary General:
“The events of the past six months have indeed served as a vivid reminder of what the institution of peacekeeping represents, what we are and who we serve: the voiceless, the citizens the old the young from all communities and walks of life, who all seek one objective. They want peace and the right to live their lives in safety and dignity.”
7. Wide shot, Martin Elian Lomoro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs addressing
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Elian Lomoro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs:
“As we look forward it is the determination of my government that we will reorganize our army, our national security our police, professionalize them and make them national to the extent that no individual, no tribe, no community will be allowed to have its own army or any organize force with guns directed by an individual from the community or by the community.”
9. Med shot, more peacekeepers
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Hilde Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary General:
“On our side in the UN, through thick and thin our commitment will remain steadfast, to help the resilient people of the world’s youngest nation out of the current crisis and to restore the spirit of hope and promise that hailed the birth of South Sudan.”
11. Med shot, peacekeepers holding UN medals
12. Med shot, SRSG pining medal to UNMISS Force Commander
13. Close up, medals
14. Various shots, pinning medal to UNMISS Police Commissioner
15. Med shot, peacekeepers marching out

Storyline

At a ceremony marking the international day of United Nations peacekeepers, the mission’s top official there said that “through thick and thin our commitment will remain steadfast, to help the resilient people of the world’s youngest nation out of the current crisis.”

In a resolution passed by the Security Council this week, the mission's(UNMISS) new mandate made protecting civilians its top priority and increased the strength of its forces.

Head of mission Hilde Johnson said that UNMISS had been established to keep peace, which was disrupted by the conflict that erupted in December 2013.

SOUNDBITE (English) Hilde Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary General:
“The events of the past six months have indeed served as a vivid reminder of what the institution of peacekeeping represents, what we are and who we serve: the voiceless, the citizens the old the young from all communities and walks of life, who all seek one objective. They want peace and the right to live their lives in safety and dignity.”

Minister of Cabinet Affairs Martin Elian Lomoro said that South Sudanese were peaceful people and he hoped that going forward there would be many changes with the armed forces.

SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Elian Lomoro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs:
“As we look forward it is the determination of my government that we will reorganize our army, our national security our police, professionalize them and make them national to the extent that no individual, no tribe, no community will be allowed to have its own army or any organize force with guns directed by an individual from the community or by the community.”

Johnson noted that five peacekeepers had been killed in an ambush in April last year, and two had perished while defending unarmed civilians against a mob of armed youth who overran the county support base in Akobo, Jonglei State, last December.

SOUNDBITE (English) Hilde Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary General:
“On our side in the UN, through thick and thin our commitment will remain steadfast, to help the resilient people of the world’s youngest nation out of the current crisis and to restore the spirit of hope and promise that hailed the birth of South Sudan.”

Johnson also said that eight of the fallen peacekeepers in South Sudan will today be awarded by the General Secretary the Dag Hammarskjöld medal.

UNMISS has over 11,600 peacekeepers both uniformed and civilians personnel each playing their own role in contributing to the peacekeeping mandate and helping to provide in protecting civilians.