Unifeed

UN / SOUTH SUDAN

The Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), David Shearer, told the Security Council that “the choices that South Sudan’s leaders make now will determine this country’s future for generations to come.” UNIFEED
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00:02:40
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2515828
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2515828
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unifeed191217d
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STORY: UN / SOUTH SUDAN
TRT: 02:40
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 17 DECEMBER 2019, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

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Shotlist

RECENT - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior, UN headquarter

17 DECEMBER 2019, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council with David Shearer on screen
3. Pan left, from Shearer on screen to Council dais
4. SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“By choosing to sign the peace agreement last year, parties kick-started a transformative process that has already paid dividends. The country has witnessed a steep decrease in civilian injuries, abductions and casualties. And while sexual violence remains an abhorrent problem, the 295 victims recorded in 2019 is substantially fewer than the almost 1,300 reported in 2018. Improvements in security have also prompted at least 645,000 people to return to their homes. But the choice to delay a transitional government twice has dampened initial hopes, eroded some trust and confidence and caused people to suspect that the political will between parties is waning. The choices that South Sudan’s leaders make now will determine this country’s future for generations to come.”
5. Wide shot, Council with Shearer on screen
6. SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“Dr. Riek Machar’s presence in Juba over the past five days for face-to-face discussions has been very encouraging and essential, as we have all known and noted, to resolve differences. As yet however, there is no resolution of his uncertain status and he is yet to be given a South Sudan passport.”
7. Wide shot, Council with Shearer on screen
8. SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“In just two months, the leaders will choose whether to form a transitional government. Preservation of the ceasefire, as I’ve said, is absolutely critical. And those choices will coincide with the dry season, a period historically associated with increased fighting. The joint meetings in the past days between President Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar is encouraging, with both sides recommitting themselves to the peace process, has restored some of the optimism and momentum that has been lost with the delays in the peace agreement. All parties now need to follow on with their words. And the international partners need to remain fully resolute, as I am sure they will do in their support. The parties need to move to a transitional government so they can start planning for South Sudan’s long-term future and ultimately for elections in the next three years.”
9. Wide shot, end of meeting

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Storyline

The Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), David Shearer, today (17 Dec) told the Security Council that “the choices that South Sudan’s leaders make now will determine this country’s future for generations to come.”

Briefing via teleconference from South Sudan, Shearer said, “by choosing to sign the peace agreement last year, parties kick-started a transformative process that has already paid dividends” including “a steep decrease in civilian injuries, abductions and casualties” and a decrease in cases of sexual violence.

He said, “improvements in security have also prompted at least 645,000 people to return to their homes” but also noted “the choice to delay a transitional government twice has dampened initial hopes, eroded some trust and confidence and caused people to suspect that the political will between parties is waning.”

Shearer said, “Dr. Riek Machar’s presence in Juba over the past five days for face-to-face discussions has been very encouraging and essential, as we have all known and noted, to resolve differences. As yet however, there is no resolution of his uncertain status and he is yet to be given a South Sudan passport.”

In just two months, he said, “the leaders will choose whether to form a transitional government” and preservation of the ceasefire will be “absolutely critical” to this decision.

These choices, Shearer said, “will coincide with the dry season, a period historically associated with increased fighting.”

Recent meetings between Kiir and Machar, he said, are “encouraging” and have “restored some of the optimism and momentum that has been lost with the delays in the peace agreement.”

Shearer said, “the parties need to move to a transitional government so they can start planning for South Sudan’s long-term future and ultimately for elections in the next three years.”

Kiir and Machar were expected to form a unified transitional Government by mid-November, in line with a revitalized peace agreement signed last September. With days to go, that deadline was extended by a further 100 days.

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