FULL TEXT: Summary of President Kiir meeting with the delegation of the UNSC

Nov 18, 2021 — His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit received and held a courtesy meeting with the Delegation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) led by H.E Mr. Daung Dinh Quy , Permanent Representative of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the United Nations.

The purpose of the mission is:

1. To deepen the relations between the Government of South Sudan and the International community in order to build confidence to progress together towards reforms for the prosperity of South Sudan.

2. To dialogue on the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council pass every year in May especially in regards to sanctions on South Sudan, therefore, the visiting delegation aims to seek ways on how to have a better understanding for the council to consider on how to elevate, modify and sustain the regime as it is now.

3. To acquaint themselves with the existing working cooperation between the government of South Sudan and the team of the United Nations operating in South Sudan and the progress of their humanitarian activities at the grounds in the areas affected by floods.

4. The delegation also came to seek information on the impacts of sanctions on the development and on the activities of the government of South Sudan and the way forward.

During the meeting,

1. The visiting UN delegation told H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit that they have received a strong commitment from the parties to implement the peace agreement especially the Chapter two (2) of the Peace Agreement on the security arrangements, which they described as very important and needs to be implemented, stating that security is important for the Country and the implementation of all the chapters of the peace agreement.

2. The UN delegation commended H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit for the steps he has taken towards the ongoing implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement. They said achieving peace is a collective responsibility and they pledged to provide enormous support to the Government of South Sudan to attain peace and stability.

3. The delegation told H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit that they expect to receive a good report by April 15th 2022 on the progress of the implementation of the revitalised peace agreement, which they hope that the report can serve as a strong foundation for the United Nations Security council to consider it to lift sanctions on South Sudan.

4. The UN delegation also told H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit that they will try their best to serve the common course and expressed their readiness to continue with the traditional relations and share experiences in enhancing cooperation between South Sudan and United Nations Security Council.

5. The delegation also mentioned that France has already requested an exemption to UNSC and sanction committee to provide training to the military of South Sudan this year and they have been sending officers of SSPDF, SPLA- IO and SSOA to Nairobi to get capacity training.

6. In addition, The delegation said, it is time for South Sudan to move forward and re-affirmed that USA will continue to stand with H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit to move South Sudan forward towards in the new direction of prosperity.

Addressing the delegation of United Nations Security Council,

1. H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit told the UN delegation not to rely on the information about South Sudan from the sources that have no base and not accurate but rather seek information about the nation from the right channels in order to make right decisions, otherwise, they will continue to make wrong decisions based on the wrong information given to them about South Sudan from the wrong channels.

2. H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit assured the delegation of United Nations Security Council that the agreement is being implemented though it is at a slow pace but the R-TGONU is determined to implement the peace agreement fully.

3. H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit told the UN delegation that he had put on hold the Saint’Egidio Rome Peace initiative between SSOMA and the Government of South Sudan because the group of NAS of Thomas Cirilo kept attacking innocent people along Juba-Nimule Road which is completely unacceptable and he decided to put the talks on hold until there is a political will from the holdout Opposition Group to respect the ceasefire agreement then he would consider reversing the order for the peace talks to continue.

4. H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit said the parliament has a lot of work to do, therefore he will give them a recess of 7 days only and then resume to continue with their work for the nation. The council of ministers meeting has been passing so many bills and they await the parliament to deliberate on them.

5. H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit told the UN delegation that since the civilians are resisting on voluntary disarmament exercise due to the facts that they used their money during the conflict to buy those guns, he is thinking for an idea for the government to offer buying off those guns from the civilians as a means of encouraging voluntary disarmament from the citizens to collect those guns from the civilians and destroy them.

6. H.E. president Salva Kiir Mayardit also told the UN delegation that the forces are trained and are in the cantonment sites ready for the graduation but there are challenges hindering the graduation of the unified forces, no basic equipment that makes a soldier complete as a soldier but he has already given instructions for his team to arrange and organise the graduation process of the unified force.

7. H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit said he requested his First Deputy Dr Riek Machar Teny to align the ranks of his soldiers according to the size of his force and up to now he has not got the feedback but he is waiting to discuss the subject matter in the next Presidency meeting on the progress in order to establish unified command .

8. H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit said he has been calling and urging the people and the parties to prepare for the elections and yet he is the President but he hope and expects everyone to be ready for elections by 2023.