Hilde Johnson, the head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has written an article “calling on all leaders to put the country’s interest before their own,” in her first remarks to local media in over two months.

The mission chief in the article published by the Sudan Tribune website on Thursday defended the record of the peacekeeping mission, saying they successfully defended more than 85,000 people in nine UN compounds since the conflict started.  

“In doing so, UNMISS was fulfilling its mandate from the UN Security Council to protect civilians under imminent threat and acted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. UNMISS is the first peacekeeping mission in the history of the UN to provide shelter to civilians in need in such large numbers,” she wrote.

The UN representative cited the Geneva Conventions, which South Sudan has ratified, as grounds for providing shelter to “anyone seeking protection, whatever their background, including ex-combatants – provided they leave uniforms and weapons behind and respect the civilian character of the camps.”

She pointed out that the number of ex-combatants in UN bases is few, however, compared to the number of ordinary citizens, saying around 80 percent of the displaced persons in the UN bases are women and children.

Johnson also addressed accusations by the South Sudanese government: “While Mission staff has worked around the clock to help the people of South Sudan during these difficult times, we have also been confronted with unfounded rumors or for that matter fabrication about meetings and phone calls by Mission leadership that have never taken place; these are baseless accusations and misrepresentations of our role.”

“There have been suggestions that UNMISS is supporting opposition forces, handing over weapons and even transporting its leadership. Nothing could be further from the truth. The UN has not and will not take sides in any conflict of this nature. In the context of this crisis, the Security Council has instructed the Mission to observe complete impartiality towards all of the country’s parties and communities,” she said.

Johnson, who is also special representative of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, further said that “the road towards reconciliation and a better future for South Sudan will be long and arduous. The UN has been supporting the youngest country in the world since its first day of independence, and we will be there every step of the way, impartial, unwavering and committed to the future of this sovereign nation.”

File photo: UN Special Representative Hilde Johnson (Tim McKulka/UN)

Full article: 'The UN in South Sudan: impartial, unwavering and committed' by Hilde F. Johnson (6 March)