Nicholas Haysom expressed serious concerns about South Sudan’s risk of returning to civil war, emphasizing the need for immediate, collaborative efforts to de-escalate tensions. He highlighted recent conflicts and urged parties to commit to the peace agreement and engage in constructive dialogue to maintain stability and prevent further conflict.
Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, expressed grave concerns over South Sudan’s precarious situation, indicating that the progress made since the 2018 revitalized peace agreement is at risk of being undone. In his address to the African Union Peace and Security Council, he emphasized the urgency for collaborative efforts to address the escalating tensions in the nation.
Haysom noted that, since the takeover of the Nasir barracks by the White Army, the atmosphere in South Sudan has become extremely charged with political unrest. Significant arrests of SPLA/IO officials have taken place, and the Government has confirmed the presence of foreign troops in the country. He warned that airstrikes on Nasir have resulted in civilian casualties, further complicating the conflict.
Amid a surge of disinformation and rampant hate speech, Haysom cautioned that the conflict risks evolving into an ethnic struggle, necessitating immediate attention to the peace process and its mechanisms. He commended the IGAD Extraordinary Summit which occurred on March 12, aimed at mitigating rising tensions, and highlighted the Quartet mechanism’s discussions aimed at fostering dialogue and trust among the involved parties.
Haysom acknowledged President Kiir’s commitment to peace but urged that this commitment must translate into concrete actions to avoid a return to conflict. He called on the Council to advocate for the recommitment to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and the relevant aspects of the Revitalized Agreement, encouraging unity among leadership through constructive dialogue.
Furthermore, Haysom appealed for support to address the recent tensions in Nasir through peaceful means and the immediate release of detained officials. He underscored the importance of the neighboring states’ roles as guarantors of the peace agreement, advocating for dialogue among South Sudanese leaders to mitigate conflicts actively.
He stressed the dire implications reflecting on the conflict in Sudan, which illustrates the potential for rapid deterioration into catastrophic war. To avert such a fate, he called for consensus-based decision-making and a return to intensive discussions aimed at resolving existing disputes and rebuilding trust.
Haysom underscored the critical need for immediate de-escalation of political tensions and reaffirmed that adherence to the Revitalized Agreement is essential to break the cycle of conflict. He concluded by accentuating the necessity for coordinated efforts to avert another conflict and to support the transition towards South Sudan’s inaugural democratic elections.
In summary, the situation in South Sudan, as highlighted by Nicholas Haysom, demands urgent intervention to prevent a potential relapse into civil war. The ongoing political tensions, coupled with recent conflicts and disinformation, pose significant threats to hard-won peace gains. Collective efforts from both local and regional parties are essential to reinforce dialogue and unity to secure a peaceful and democratic future for South Sudan.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
