United Nations said insecurity, addressing human rights violations and strengthening public institutions pose major challenges to South Sudan.
UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative Hilde F. Johnson told the Security Council in a briefing via video-link from Juba on Monday that a key challenge is the security situation in Jonglei state, where fighting between Government forces and armed groups displaced thousands of civilians since January.
She pointed out that ‘many of us witnessed the outpouring of euphoria that greeted the dawn of independence of South Sudan. The mood of that day now seems like a fading memory.’
Ms Johnson underlined that ‘the deterioration in the security situation in parts of South Sudan has been accompanied by human rights violations by both armed groups and national security institutions.’
She noted that progress to date includes improved relations with the Sudan, the internal dialogue with armed groups, and a renewed commitment to advancing the national reconciliation process.
Ms Johnson added that national and state authorities are struggling to translate their commitments to improve respect for human rights into action.’