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STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / SRSG HAYSOM PRESSER
TRT: 05:02
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: PLEASE SEE SHOTLIST FOR DETAILS
02 AUGUST 2023, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, presser hall
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“Time is of the essence. Only 17 months remain on the Roadmap timelines before the elections in 2024. I repeat what I had said in an earlier press conference that 2023 is a ‘make or break’ year such that key decisions and actions must be made now have to be made to pave the way for the holding of peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections next year.”
03 JUNE 2022, MALAKAL, SOUTH SUDAN
3. Various shots, women in a hall
02 AUGUST 2023, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“Elections are not merely a one-day event, but a process that involves deliberate and thoughtful actions before—well before—during, and after. The process must have the full confidence of the South Sudanese people to make it a nation-building and not a divisive or violent activity.”
30 AUGUST 2022, JUBA, SOUTH
5. Wide shot, South Sudan Police
17 APRIL 2019, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
6. Wide shot, people celebrating at the Freedom square
22 JUNE 2018, TALI, SOUTH SUDAN
7. Med shot, people dancing
02 AUGUST 2023, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“Simply holding elections is not enough. The credibility, transparency and inclusivity of the process is what brings legitimacy. This includes that political parties must be able to register and campaign freely, a civil society that will serve as extended arms for civic education and act as observer watchdog of the process. It includes a media that can report on the process
22 JULY 2023, YEI, SOUTH SUDAN
9. Various shots, SRSG in Yei
02 AUGUST 2023, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“The war in Sudan dominates regional and global attention, while South Sudan bears a share of the brunt of the crisis. Food prices have increased, reducing the ability of vulnerable households to access food to meet basic requirements, while reduced cross-border trade has led to localized scarcity of food commodities.”
15 JUNE 2023, BENTIU, SOUTH SUDAN
11. Various shots, returnees
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“The congestion and increased competition over scarce resources could exacerbate existing inter-communal tensions between the returnees and host communities and between some of the returnee communities and this needs to be averted. UNMISS has intensified patrols and reinforced its military presence in Renk to mitigate and prevent any outbreak of violence.”
15 JUNE 2023, BENTIU, SOUTH SUDAN
13. Various shots, displaced people
02 AUGUST 2023, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
14. Various shots, presser hall
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“I believe there will be international willingness to support the peace process and the elections if there are demonstrable actions by the principal stakeholders in those elections and the right frameworks to allow for the receipt of such assistance. But key decisions about electoral, constitutional and security structures must be made urgently; and these decisions do not require special additional resources. Success in this area will persuade donors and international partners that a peaceful and secure South Sudan is a viable place for investment and support.”
The Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan said, “Time is of the essence. Only 17 months remain on the Roadmap timelines before the elections in 2024.”
With South Sudan at a critical point in its democratic transition, Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) briefed members of the press today (02 Aug) on the current state of play in this young nation.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS): “I repeat what I had said in an earlier press conference that 2023 is a ‘make or break’ year such that key decisions and actions must be made now have to be made to pave the way for the holding of peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections next year.”
As the world’s newest nation races to hold its first-ever elections at the end of next year, the top UN official urged the country’s leaders to prioritize foundational tasks such as reconstituting important electoral bodies, finalizing South Sudan’s permanent constitution, and, vitally, demonstrating political will to take this nation-building activity to the finish line.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS): “Elections are not merely a one-day event, but a process that involves deliberate and thoughtful actions before—well before—during, and after. The process must have the full confidence of the South Sudanese people to make it a nation-building and not a divisive or violent activity.”
The SRSG stressed the need to urgently address questions surrounding transitional security measures, while emphasizing that everybody—politicians, civil society, the media, all citizens—has a vital role to play in ensuring that voters can make informed choices at the ballot boxes.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS): “Simply holding elections is not enough. The credibility, transparency and inclusivity of the process is what brings legitimacy. This includes that political parties must be able to register and campaign freely, a civil society that will serve as extended arms for civic education and act as observer watchdog of the process. It includes a media that can report on the process and give space to the variety of voices and opinions for voters to make informed choices.”
In this regard, Haysom reiterated UNMISS’ ongoing support, upon request by the Government of South Sudan, to electoral and constitution-making processes, in partnership with the African Union and IGAD. Importantly the Head of UNMISS highlighted the impact of the Sudan crisis on South Sudan.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS): “The war in Sudan dominates regional and global attention, while South Sudan bears a share of the brunt of the crisis. Food prices have increased, reducing the ability of vulnerable households to access food to meet basic requirements, while reduced cross-border trade has led to localized scarcity of food commodities.”
Haysom called for support to humanitarian partners for them to be able to ensure onward transport of tens of thousands of returnees from Sudan, warning of the possibility of violence erupting between returnees and host communities or among different returnee groups themselves.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS): “The congestion and increased competition over scarce resources could exacerbate existing inter-communal tensions between the returnees and host communities and between some of the returnee communities and this needs to be averted. UNMISS has intensified patrols and reinforced its military presence in Renk to mitigate and prevent any outbreak of violence.”
The Head of UNMISS further elaborated on continued efforts by UNMISS to mitigate the impact of last month’s clashes at the UN Protection Site in Malakal as well as key security issues in Jonglei, the Greater Pibor Administrative area, and cattle-migration related hotspots in the Equatorias. In conclusion, Haysom highlighted the need within South Sudan to deepen mutual trust between communities and their leaders, build common purpose and a shared vision of the future.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS): “I believe there will be international willingness to support the peace process and the elections if there are demonstrable actions by the principal stakeholders in those elections and the right frameworks to allow for the receipt of such assistance. But key decisions about electoral, constitutional and security structures must be made urgently; and these decisions do not require special additional resources. Success in this area will persuade donors and international partners that a peaceful and secure South Sudan is a viable place for investment and support.”
