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SOUTH SUDAN / LACROIX VISIT
STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / LACROIX VISIT
TRT: 7:16
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 10 SEPTEMBER 2021, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
10 SEPTEMBER 2021, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, plane taxing
2. Wide shot, UNMISS officials sharing greetings
3.Various shots, Jean-Pierre Lacroix descending from plane and being sprayed
4. Various shots, Lacroix being greeted by UNMISS officials
5. Various shots, Lacroix meeting with government officials
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“Over the last 18 months, the situation has been rather tough for the country and the people of South Sudan and also for our colleagues here because of the challenges that already existed before COVID-19 but also additional challenges resulting from COVID-19. I think it’s important to come here and express the UN’s continuous commitment to South Sudan and its people and support their efforts but also to express support and gratitude to our UN colleagues.”
7.Various shots, meeting with leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition, now First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Puok Both Baluang, Acting Press Secretary for South Sudan First Vice President:
“We know the importance of the elections is very crucial because it is the democratic process that allows the citizens of South Sudan to elect whom they see as the right person to lead them during the next few years. We have some challenges, mainly the security arrangements. We need to create a conducive environment for the elections.”
9. Med shot, Lacroix with South Sudan Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, Vice President, South Sudan:
“Women are more realistic about issues because they are the mothers, they are wives, they are sisters, so they know what a country is, what is a nation. There is no nation without people, the women know about this. But some of the men are concerned about their positions, but the women are concerned about the life of people. So, also in our economy, without women participating in the building of our economy, this economy will be paralyzed. It will be like a bird without one wing, so like if you see West Africa women, they are there in the market, but in South Sudan, we have not encouraged our women. So, women are very important.”
11. Various shots, meeting with Civil Society organisations and religious leaders
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Father James Oyet Latansio, General Secretary, South Sudan Council of Churches:
“Our leadership needs to remember what they told the global leadership in Rome that they will never take their country back to war. We understand the challenges, however, they should recommit to dialogue, dialogue to build trust among themselves, dialogue to engage our troops, dialogue to deliver services to the people of South Sudan, not to leave the people in South Sudan in misery. Get on and give peace a chance through dialogue.”
14. Various shots, meeting with Civil Society organisations and religious leaders
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations
“You cannot build durable peace if you don’t engage the civil society, the communities, the people basically in its diversity, the women and the youth. And these representatives of the civil society, they are our partners. They are partners of the UN, and they help us in highlighting concerns that are really very high in the minds of so many people here. So, I think it’s extremely important to have this regular dialogue with these partners, representatives of the civil society.”
16. Various shots, meeting with Civil Society organisations and religious leaders
UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix is in South Sudan in an effort to revive the stagnating peace process and to express the commitment of the United Nations in supporting the people of South Sudan as they transition from war to peace, recovery, and development.
SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“Over the last 18 months, the situation has been rather tough for the country and the people of South Sudan and also for our colleagues here because of the challenges that already existed before COVID-19 but also additional challenges resulting from COVID-19. I think it’s important to come here and express the UN’s continuous commitment to South Sudan and its people and support their efforts but also to express support and gratitude to our UN colleagues.”
After five years of civil war, the warring factions signed a peace deal in 2018. Since then, political violence has significantly reduced although sporadic fighting continues at the community level in pockets of the country, particularly Western Equatoria and Warrap.
One of the key players in resolving that conflict and pushing the peace process forward is the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition, now First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar. The USG held lengthy talks with him today (10 Sep) to discuss key issues, such as the conflict around Tambura and the delayed graduation and deployment of unified security forces, the permanent constitution-making process, and preparations for elections.
SOUNDBITE (English) Puok Both Baluang, Acting Press Secretary for South Sudan First Vice President:
“We know the importance of the elections is very crucial because it is the democratic process that allows the citizens of South Sudan to elect whom they see as the right person to lead them during the next few years. We have some challenges, mainly the security arrangements. We need to create a conducive environment for the elections.”
Lacroix also met with Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior. In addition to general political, security and humanitarian issues, a key focus of the talks was the importance of women leading and actively participating in the peace process. The peace agreement requires parties to ensure 35 percent representation of women in all governance structures. The country has appointed its first female Speaker, but it is still far from meeting its target.
SOUNDBITE (English) Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, Vice President, South Sudan:
“Women are more realistic about issues because they are the mothers, they are wives, they are sisters, so they know what a country is, what is a nation. There is no nation without people, the women know about this. But some of the men are concerned about their positions, but the women are concerned about the life of people. So, also in our economy, without women participating in the building of our economy, this economy will be paralyzed. It will be like a bird without one wing, so like if you see West Africa women, they are there in the market, but in South Sudan, we have not encouraged our women. So, women are very important.”
The peacekeeping chief also met with civil society groups and faith-based leaders who want the political leaders to live up to their promises.
SOUNDBITE (English) Father James Oyet Latansio, General Secretary, South Sudan Council of Churches:
“Our leadership needs to remember what they told the global leadership in Rome that they will never take their country back to war. We understand the challenges, however, they should recommit to dialogue, dialogue to build trust among themselves, dialogue to engage our troops, dialogue to deliver services to the people of South Sudan, not to leave the people in South Sudan in misery. Get on and give peace a chance through dialogue.”
Jean-Pierre Lacroix took that message on board by reinforcing the importance of civil society and communities more broadly engaging in the peace process and holding their leaders to account.
SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations
“You cannot build durable peace if you don’t engage the civil society, the communities, the people basically in its diversity, the women and the youth. And these representatives of the civil society, they are our partners. They are partners of the UN, and they help us in highlighting concerns that are really very high in the minds of so many people here. So, I think it’s extremely important to have this regular dialogue with these partners, representatives of the civil society.”
Political and security discussions will continue tomorrow with meetings scheduled with the country’s President and Defense Minister as well as women’s groups who are working to build durable peace in South Sudan.
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