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STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / KIIR GOVERNORS FORUM
TRT: 03:41
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 26 NOVEMBER 2024, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, Governors’ Forum
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Salva Kiir Mayardit, President, South Sudan:
“Our collective vision, we the signatories to the 2018 peace agreement, is to bridge the gap, to understand the reservations of the hold-out groups, accommodate these reservations within the existing agreement, so that the Tumaini Initiative becomes part of the existing agreement. It makes sense to say, any agreement to replace the existing one [Revitalized Peace Agreement] will defeat the principle of inclusivity and will certainly lead to a cycle of conflict.”
3. Various shots, Governors’ Forum
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head, United Nations Mission In South Sudan (UNMISS):
“What is needed now is a clear, realistic, harmonised work plan for the next two years. I, therefore, reiterate our call for the parties to employ a sense of urgency in fulfilling the promises they made to the people of South Sudan. This will require an unwavering spirit of solidarity, bold decision-making, and a clear and actionable implementation plan.”
5. Various shots, Governors’ Forum
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head, United Nations Mission In South Sudan (UNMISS):
“We remain of the view that this pathway has a solid footing in, a platform for, the effective implementation of the peace agreement. The alternate pathway is that festering conflict and subnational violence continues to cause tragic loss of life and only worsens humanitarian needs across South Sudan.”
7. Various shots, Governors’ Forum
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Anita Kiki Gbeho, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator:
“Access challenges persist, including physical constraints, violence against humanitarian personnel and assets, and checkpoints that slow response efforts. Given the needs, we look forward to a clear direction to facilitate humanitarian access at all levels, including physical, regulatory, and security measures, that allow humanitarian efforts to have the most impact on people’s lives.”
9. Wide shot, participants
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Tuesday (26 Nov) told the 8th annual Governor’s Forum that the Tumaini talks with hold-out groups in Nairobi are not intended to negotiate a parallel deal or replace the country’s existing peace agreement.
The President was welcomed by a high-powered audience as he arrived at Freedom Hall in Juba to open the Forum. Joined by the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, other Vice Presidents, Ministers, Governors from the 10 states, the diplomatic community and other stakeholders.
SOUNDBITE (English) Salva Kiir Mayardit, President, South Sudan:
“Our collective vision, we the signatories to the 2018 peace agreement, is to bridge the gap, to understand the reservations of the hold-out groups, accommodate these reservations within the existing agreement, so that the Tumaini Initiative becomes part of the existing agreement. It makes sense to say, any agreement to replace the existing one will defeat the principle of inclusivity and will certainly lead to a cycle of conflict.”
Launched in May 2024, the Tumaini Initiative is a high-level mediation incorporating holdout groups that did not sign the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.
Speaking at the Forum, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom, spoke about the recent extension of the Government’s transitional period and two-year delay of elections.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head, United Nations Mission In South Sudan (UNMISS):
“What is needed now is a clear, realistic, harmonised work plan for the next two years. I, therefore, reiterate our call for the parties to employ a sense of urgency in fulfilling the promises they made to the people of South Sudan. This will require an unwavering spirit of solidarity, bold decision-making, and a clear and actionable implementation plan.”
Haysom urged the Governors to collectively commit to tackling the root causes of conflict.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head, United Nations Mission In South Sudan (UNMISS):
“We remain of the view that this pathway has a solid footing in, a platform for, the effective implementation of the peace agreement. The alternate pathway is that festering conflict and subnational violence continues to cause tragic loss of life and only worsens humanitarian needs across South Sudan.”
Deputy Special Representative Anita Kiki Gbeho spoke of the remaining challenges.
SOUNDBITE (English) Anita Kiki Gbeho, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator:
“Access challenges persist, including physical constraints, violence against humanitarian personnel and assets, and checkpoints that slow response efforts. Given the needs, we look forward to a clear direction to facilitate humanitarian access at all levels, including physical, regulatory, and security measures, that allow humanitarian efforts to have the most impact on people’s lives.”
The Governors’ Forum comes as the country confronts growing challenges, including nine million people requiring humanitarian aid, 7.5 million experiencing food insecurity, an influx of 880,000 returnees and refugees fleeing violence in Sudan, unprecedented flooding affecting 1.4 million people and the presence of cholera in eight counties.
