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STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / JVMM WORKSHOP
TRT: 03:38
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 27 MAY 2025, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, workshop
2. SOUNDBITE (English) General Santino Deng Wol, Chief of Defence, South Sudan:
“So, UNMISS and other organizations have to understand the situation we are in. Those are the areas of restriction up till now because we don’t want any organization to go to Tonj or Old Fangak without a green light from General Headquarters. So, the message is that when there is insecurity, we need to evacuate the area for some time, later on, you will be granted to move.”
3. Various shots, workshop
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Lieutenant-General Mohan Subramanian, Force Commander, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“We also have our mandate, you understand. If we do not visit a conflict prone area within a reasonable time, it questions our very relevance – why are we here? We cannot say that there is a security risk, and we are not going. We are here to take that risk. That is why we are the Force. That is why we are in uniform and provided with weapons. We are supposed to take a certain amount of risk, not undue risk, but a reasonable risk to ensure that we do our mandated duties. That is the fine difference of opinion between the Government and us. You want us to go when it is perfectly safe, but we have to go when it is reasonably safe.”
5. Various shots, workshop
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Lieutenant-General Rabi Mujung Emmanuel Commander, Air Force, South Sudan:
“This issue of movement is sometimes for good purpose, when you are notified, please wait a bit, don’t go, because of insecurity, if you go, something bad may happen to you. That means, the one who is notifying you, that there is danger or risk to your mission, you need to understand that. And if you are granted, okay you go, then that means guarantee of safety to your life is there. But if you insist, that’s why sometimes they say, you go on your own risk because you don’t believe me, you don’t take my words into consideration, and when something bad happens you either regret or I wish I had understood what I was told.”
7. Various Shots, Workshop
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Lieutenant-General Mohan Subramanian, Force Commander, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“Unfettered access given to UNMISS and our partners, the humanitarians in the country, would be one of the surest ways of proving and demonstrating the credibility of the Government of South Sudan for implementing the peace agreement to the whole world.”
9. Various shots, workshop
Amidst a surge in military confrontations between forces aligned with the two main parties and persistent intercommunal conflict, United Nations peacekeepers are doing their utmost to prevent a relapse into civil war and reinvigorate efforts to implement the peace agreement.
Together with regional and international partners, UNMISS has intensified diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions. It has also increased patrols to deter violence, despite many obstacles, including being prevented access to hotspots, such as areas of Upper Nile under aerial bombardment.
SOUNDBITE (English) General Santino Deng Wol, Chief of Defence, South Sudan:
“So, UNMISS and other organizations have to understand the situation we are in. Those are the areas of restriction up till now because we don’t want any organization to go to Tonj or Old Fangak without a green light from General Headquarters. So, the message is that when there is insecurity, we need to evacuate the area for some time, later on, you will be granted to move.”
Access denials were top of the agenda at a joint workshop between UNMISS and the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM) in Juba.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lieutenant-General Mohan Subramanian, Force Commander, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“We also have our mandate, you understand. If we do not visit a conflict prone area within a reasonable time, it questions our very relevance – why are we here? We cannot say that there is a security risk, and we are not going. We are here to take that risk. That is why we are the Force. That is why we are in uniform and provided with weapons. We are supposed to take a certain amount of risk, not undue risk, but a reasonable risk to ensure that we do our mandated duties. That is the fine difference of opinion between the Government and us. You want us to go when it is perfectly safe, but we have to go when it is reasonably safe.”
So far this year, the peacekeeping mission has conducted 3,500 patrols. However, there have been 686 incidents where documentation provided by UNMISS in advance of patrols was not acknowledged in time and 21 occasions when peacekeepers were denied the ability to move in the field.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lieutenant-General Rabi Mujung Emmanuel Commander, Air Force, South Sudan:
“This issue of movement is sometimes for good purpose, when you are notified, please wait a bit, don’t go, because of insecurity, if you go, something bad may happen to you. That means, the one who is notifying you, that there is danger or risk to your mission, you need to understand that. And if you are granted, okay you go, then that means guarantee of safety to your life is there. But if you insist, that’s why sometimes they say, you go on your own risk because you don’t believe me, you don’t take my words into consideration, and when something bad happens you either regret or I wish I had understood what I was told.”
The Status of Forces Agreement between the UN and the Government of South Sudan states that UNMISS shall “enjoy full and unrestricted freedom of movement without delay.” However, Government representatives point to clauses that it must take “all appropriate measures to ensure UNMISS’ safety, security and freedom of movement” and that the Mission shall “respect all local laws and regulations.”
Despite differences of opinion, workshop participants highlighted many occasions where they were able to work successfully together to resolve challenges and progress patrols to vulnerable communities.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lieutenant-General Mohan Subramanian, Force Commander, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“Unfettered access given to UNMISS and our partners, the humanitarians in the country, would be one of the surest ways of proving and demonstrating the credibility of the Government of South Sudan for implementing the peace agreement to the whole world.”
At this critical moment, it is more important than ever that UNMISS can freely continue its work as an impartial partner to support the country’s transition from conflict to peace and democracy.
