Positive developments in South Sudan have ‘moved the country further along the road to sustainable peace’, head of the UN Mission in South Sudan or UNMISS David Shearer told Security Council members on Wednesday.
He attributed the progress to ‘the political willingness of two men who put the interests of their country first’: President Kiir for making ‘a critical concession’ and Dr Machar for agreeing to return to Juba.
The UN envoy explained that ‘the ceasefire and the free movement of opposition leaders across South Sudan have lowered the risk of violence’.
The UNMISS chief warned that the lack of health and education in rural areas has discouraged returns and must be redressed by humanitarian and development actors, ‘including donors’.
He stressed that international community cannot ‘totally step back to wait to see what happens before making a commitment’.
‘Our actions can push South Sudan further toward sustainable peace; our inaction can help condemn it to failure’, Shearer pointed out.
‘International partners must remain engaged both in solidarity and at times with pressure to encourage compromise to achieve and maintain the unity’, the Special Representative said.