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JUBA - 14 Jul 2020

UN Security Council urges govt to finalize remaining governors

UNMISS/Nektarios Markogiannis | President Salva Kiir (centre right) shakes hands with Riek Machar, who was sworn in as First Vice President on 22 February 2020.
UNMISS/Nektarios Markogiannis | President Salva Kiir (centre right) shakes hands with Riek Machar, who was sworn in as First Vice President on 22 February 2020.

The UN Security Council has encouraged the unity government to finalize the remaining state governors and establish state and county administrations without delay.

Last month, President Salva Kiir appointed governors for eight states, after his agreement with his first deputy Riek Machar on the process for nominating governors in the country’s 10 states.

The president, however, did not appoint governors for two states – Jonglei and Upper Nile.

There have been disagreements among parties to the peace agreement over the choice for governors for the two states, which are allocated to the SPLM-IO and the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).

In a statement on Tuesday, the Council members expressed concern regarding the delays implementing the peace agreement and urged the parties to expeditiously finalize security arrangements, establish transitional government institutions including a national legislative assembly, followed by concerted progress on transitional reforms.

The Council recognized the efforts of the coalition government to address the COVID-19 pandemic. It encouraged the unity government to continue to enhance cooperation with humanitarian agencies, United Nations agencies, and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in this regard.

The members of the Security Council expressed grave concern regarding the increased violence between armed groups in South Sudan in recent months, including in Jonglei, which has killed hundreds and displaced thousands.

The Council also urged the unity government and non-signatories to the coalition government to resume dialogue and fully implement the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities, in keeping with their commitments in the Rome Declaration.

The Council expressed concern at the dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan, which is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and renewed inter-communal violence, and reiterated the need for the parties to facilitate, in a manner consistent with relevant provisions of international law, the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

 It deplored the recent killing of humanitarian workers in Jonglei and Lakes State.

The Council reiterated their support for the people of South Sudan and reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity of South Sudan.