Unifeed
SOUTH SUDAN / SHEARER PRESSER
STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / SRSG SHEARER PRESSER
TRT: 04:14
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 29 SEPTEMBER 2020, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN / FILE 2020, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN / FILE 2017 / 2019 YEI, SOUTH SUDAN
FILE - 2020, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, event swearing in Transitional Government of National Unity
29 SEPTEMBER 2020, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
2. Various shots, set ups of Special Representative of the Secretary-Genera and Head of UNMISS, David Shearer
3. SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“COVID-19 has slowed down the peace process, but the pandemic is not entirely to blame. The peace agreement is limping along. It needs to move faster. My concern about the delay is that it risks pushing elections out well beyond the timeline of the agreement. This will add to the growing disillusionment amongst communities about whether the political will exists to give South Sudanese citizens the opportunity to choose their leaders.”
4. Various shots, journalists at press conference
5. SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“The role of the government in managing the country’s finances is straightforward. Step one, account for the money coming into the country. Step two, account for how that money is spent. David Shearer. “It’s a simple process but it requires and depends on is transparency and accountability. Every citizen of this country – as with any country in the world – has the right to know what is being earned and what is being is spent on their behalf. That information is not available in South Sudan.”
6. More shot, journalists
FILE - 2017, YEI, SOUTH SUDAN
7. Various shots, troops on road patrol
29 SEPTEMBER 2020, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
8. Wide shot, press conference
9. SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“For a number of years, we have had an agreement to notify the South Sudan authorities when our peacekeepers are moving around the country. We have done this out of respect for the sovereignty of South Sudan. However, there is no sign of similar respect from the SSPDF for our need to have freedom of movement to protect civilians and to build peace.”
FILE - 2019, YEI, SOUTH SUDAN
10. Tracking shot, abandoned homes
11. Various shots, convoy
12. Various shots, troops at check point
Speaking at a press conference in Juba today (29 Sep), the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, David Shearer, said delays in implementing the peace agreement, signed in 2018, risks delaying elections beyond the agreed three-year time frame. Fresh life needs to be urgently breathed into the peace process to avoid this outcome.
Eight months ago, these once bitter enemies came together to join a new united transitional government that promised to bring peace and prosperity to war-torn South Sudan.
But that promise is yet to be realized with the peace process limping along amidst a return to a business as usual approach to governing, the COVID-19 pandemic and an economic crisis in the world’s newest nation.
SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“COVID-19 has slowed down the peace process, but the pandemic is not entirely to blame. The peace agreement is limping along. It needs to move faster. My concern about the delay is that it risks pushing elections out well beyond the timeline of the agreement. This will add to the growing disillusionment amongst communities about whether the political will exists to give South Sudanese citizens the opportunity to choose their leaders.”
The SRSG acknowledged the huge challenges faced by South Sudan, including falling oil prices, an ongoing lack of financial accountability, delays in paying civil servants, and a doubling of the street exchange rate since March. This is putting a huge burden on ordinary families.
SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“The role of the government in managing the country’s finances is straightforward. Step one, account for the money coming into the country. Step two, account for how that money is spent. David Shearer. “It’s a simple process but it requires and depends on is transparency and accountability. Every citizen of this country – as with any country in the world – has the right to know what is being earned and what is being is spent on their behalf. That information is not available in South Sudan.”
The SRSG also expressed concern about a recent increase in peacekeepers being obstructed from reaching communities suffering from a surge in subnational conflict. In the past few weeks, due to a change in approach by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, these kinds of operations have not been able to take place.
SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“For a number of years, we have had an agreement to notify the South Sudan authorities when our peacekeepers are moving around the country. We have done this out of respect for the sovereignty of South Sudan. However, there is no sign of similar respect from the SSPDF for our need to have freedom of movement to protect civilians and to build peace.”
As a result, the persistent obstructions have been reported to regional and international partners, including the Security Council and African Union.
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