The new chief of the UN Mission in South Sudan, David Shearer, said they are ready to support an inclusive dialogue process involving all stakeholders for a genuine peace to prevail across the country.
Speaking during a news conference in Juba today, Shearer welcomed President Kiir’s call for the dialogue initiative during his speech while addressing the members of parliament at the opening of the second session yesterday.
“I think the most important thing for us is to make sure that any national dialogue is inclusive, that means we are looking at the widest range of actors coming in to that. If we are going to be genuine seeking peace and reconciliation, then we have spread the dialogue wider,” said Shearer.
“For the United Nations, our issue about that is that, we have had a considerable amount of experience with national dialogues across the world and have couple of experts here over the past weeks in terms of reading a national dialogue, and what we have learned from other places, we are ready to provide that support to the government as they progress forward,” he added.
On Tuesday, President Kiir said the government’s dialogue initiative is not a trick to cling onto power, pointing out that it is a national undertaking designed to unite the people of South Sudan.
Photo: UNMISS chief David Shearer speaks to journalists at a press conference in Juba on Wednesday, 22 February, 2017 (Radio Tamazuj).