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STORY: UN / SOUTH SUDAN
TRT: 03:22
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 05 FEBRUARY 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, United Nations headquarters
05 FEBRUARY 2025, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan:
“The toxic effects of the Sudan conflict are spilling over into South Sudan, as witnessed by the unrest, in Juba and beyond, following the reported killing of South Sudanese in Wad Madani.”
4. Wide shot, Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan:
“The recent unrest also reflects public frustration over the economic crisis. The cost of an average food basket has risen by 200 percent, the inflation rate stands at 107 percent, and approximately ten months of government salaries are unpaid.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan:
“I must report that UNMISS has received a request from government for the Mission to vacate part of its headquarters. This request on a 45-day notice period comes at significant cost and a logistical timetable that we do not currently have resources to accommodate. The Mission is offering a collaborative approach, but I note the outcome should be guided by operational necessities and, in the long term, resource availability. Our operational environment is also constrained by movement restrictions on peacekeepers in some parts of the country. UNMISS will continue to pursue constructive dialogue with our host government on these issues through the High-Level Coordination Committee, a joint discussion and consultation forum.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Tai Gituai, Major General (rtd), Interim Chairperson, Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC):
“Oil, the country's main source of foreign economy was disrupted in second quarter of 2024 because of the conflict in the Republic of Sudan. The main pipeline transporting about 60 percent of crude oil to port Sudan that was damaged is yet to be repaired. Consequently, revenue earnings fell considerably.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Edmund Yakani, Executive Director, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO):
“Elections will be credible and peaceful if the government creates good enough conditions for holding the elections. Among the key factors for good enough conditions for the elections are as follows, Mr. President: A - timely political decision are required from the presidency on the faith of the elections, and this will allow the National Election Commission to undertake their technical roles, effectively. B - unification of forces, D - adequate and timely financing of the elections with the clear timeline that will make the government deliver the elections.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Cecilia Adout Majok Adeng, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, South Sudan:
“We recognize the concerns raised regarding the delays in the transitional process and assure this Council that every effort is being made to accelerate the key milestones, particularly the preparation for the fair and free and credible elections. Mr. President, we acknowledge the challenges faced by the election related bodies and reaffirms our commitment to providing necessary funding and institutional support to advance electoral process in our country.”
14. Wide shot, end of Security Council
The ongoing conflict in Sudan is fueling unrest in South Sudan, where economic hardship and political uncertainty have intensified, the Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) told the Security Council today (Feb 5).
“The toxic effects of the Sudan conflict are spilling over into South Sudan, as witnessed by the unrest, in Juba and beyond, following the reported killing of South Sudanese in Wad Madani,” said Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UNMISS.
The unrest comes amid a worsening economic crisis. “The cost of an average food basket has risen by 200 percent, the inflation rate stands at 107 percent, and approximately ten months of government salaries are unpaid,” Haysom added.
In a further development, the South Sudanese government has requested UNMISS to vacate part of its headquarters within 45 days, a move that Haysom described as imposing “significant cost and a logistical timetable that we do not currently have resources to accommodate.” He noted that movement restrictions on peacekeepers in some areas further complicate UNMISS operations but emphasized the mission’s commitment to constructive dialogue through the High-Level Coordination Committee.
Economic instability has been exacerbated by disruptions to oil exports, a key revenue source for South Sudan “because of the conflict in the Republic of Sudan,” said Charles Tai Gituai, Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission. “The main pipeline transporting about 60 percent of crude oil to Port Sudan that was damaged is yet to be repaired. Consequently, revenue earnings fell considerably.”
Amid these challenges, concerns over the credibility of upcoming elections remain at the forefront. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), stressed that credible elections hinge on necessary government action. Yakani emphasized the need for “timely political decision from the presidency,” “unification of forces” as well as “adequate and timely financing of the elections with a clear timeline.”
According to Nicholas Haysom, as South Sudan enters the fourth extension of its transitional period under the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, there is a growing consensus that further delays are untenable. While the South Sudanese people have been patient, expectations are mounting for leaders to meet the benchmarks set out in the peace process without additional extensions.
Cecilia Adout Majok Adeng of South Sudan acknowledged “the concerns raised regarding the delays in the transitional process.” She assured the Security Council “that every effort is being made to accelerate the key milestones, particularly the preparation for the fair and free and credible elections.” The representative said, “We acknowledge the challenges faced by the election related bodies and reaffirms our commitment to providing necessary funding and institutional support to advance electoral process in our country.”
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