UN Security Council Sends Its Delegation To Volatile South Sudan

Sept 2, 2016(Nyamilepedia) —— The United Nations Security Council sends, at least, 15 top diplomats led by the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Ms Samantha Powers and Fode Seck, a Senegalese UN Permanent Representative.

The diplomats, who arrived today in the South Sudanese capital, are expected to stay in the country for at least three days visiting some of the UN Camps that currently accommodate hundreds of thousands of civilians within the capital city and also in other parts of the country.

The diplomats are expected to visit UN base in Wau of Western Bhar el Ghazal, one of the states where many civilians were recently killed and women raped by government soldiers.

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The top diplomats will also meet president Salva Kiir and members of the Transitional Government of National Unity to brief them on deployment of a protection force that will secure Juba from the SPLA’s warring factions.

Speaking to media in Juba, South Sudan, Shantel Persaud, the acting spokesperson of the UN Mission said the diplomats will visit Wau and hold many meetings with Kiir’s government to brief them on the need of a protection force and how it will operate in the country.

“The full 15 members delegation will be visiting South Sudan over the coming four days and we will be holding a number of meetings as well as going to other regions outside the capital” Shantel said.

“The security Council has over the months voiced its strong concerns on the state of the security and political process in the country” she continued.

The UN Spokesperson said the UN is troubled by the widespread violence in the country adding that the magnitude of the suffering on the South Sudanese people is worrying.

“They are troubled by the ongoing widespread violence and the dire impact on the humanitarian level.” she said.

“The magnitude of the suffering of the people of South Sudan is worrying” Shantel continued.

According to Shantel, the visit aims to strengthen the position of UN Security Council on the deployment of a regional force and also to persuade South Sudan’s leaders to think and care for their people.

“They want to use this visit to engage with the Transitional government of National Unity and also meet with the civil society groups and that include women representatives basically to hear their views about the next steps from various communities” Shantel said.

“We are asking the transitional government to think of the people of South Sudan, how best to move the country forward, putting all personal and political differences aside” she continued.

In addition, the visit aims to educate the UNSC on the situation on the ground as they will hear from the IDPs and ordinary citizens from first hand experience as opposed to what is reported through the media.

“They will also be taking time to visit the protection of civilians’ sites and see for themselves the humanitarians and security situation, and hearing some of the challenges in the POC sites from the IDPs themselves” She continued.

“The visit is for the UNSC to understand the situation from firsthand experiences facing the ordinary citizens in South Sudan.” Shantel said.

The diplomats will also explain to TGNU why the Protection force should not be confused with an occupying force.

They assured that the Regional Protection Force (RPF) will work in coordination and with the consent of the Transitional Government.

The visit is expected to influence how the UN and partners will reinvigorate South Sudan peace process and safe it from collapse.

The visit of the UN diplomats came just a few days after a visit by the Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta.

Unlike the UNSC diplomats, the Kenyan president only toured presidential palace and met with politicians, who are loyal to president Salva Kiir, with less focus on the humanitarian side.