Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Visits South Sudan

Jean-Pierre Lacroix (left), Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, meets with Martin Elia Lomuro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs of South Sudan in Juba.

Mr. Lacroix is in South Sudan to push for an end to political violence and progress in the peace process as well as to strengthen understanding of the impact of the UN-wide financial crisis on peacekeeping missions. He briefed South Sudan's leaders about the requirement of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to reduce its spending by 15% within the next seven months. This means UNMISS must close some bases, reduce civilian and uniformed peacekeepers, and cut operational spending. The cost-saving measures come at the worst possible time as the political, security and humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.