South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) Edmund Yakani, has called on the United Nations Security Council to support the African Union Peace and Security Council in resolving the stalemate related to the 2018 peace deal.
“I would like to take this opportunity to urge members of the UN Security Council, who will be holding a regular briefing today on the situation in South Sudan, to back the calls made by the African Union Peace and Security Council delegation that visited Juba,” said Yakani.
He emphasised that the political leaders of South Sudan should take advantage of the current situation to engage in an inclusive high-level leadership dialogue aimed at achieving political consensus to implement the outstanding elements of the revitalised peace agreement.
Yakani noted that dialogue among the political party’s signatory to the revitalised 2018 peace agreement would help create a conducive environment ahead of elections, adding that the release of political detainees would foster compromise.
Yakani also revealed that appointing a former African president to fill the vacancy in the African Union High Level Panel would help nurture trust and confidence among the parties to the peace agreement.
He pointed out that the deficit of trust has contributed to the political instability that the country has faced since 2013, stressing the need for an ex-African president to address the dire security situation in the country.
“We urge the UN Security Council to encourage our leaders to resume the Tumaini initiative, which is under the mediation of Kenya, as it will facilitate a broader, inclusive political transitional process in the country,” he said.
“The situation in South Sudan requires the world’s attention. My appeal to the UN Security Council is to not leave South Sudan behind, not to forget South Sudan, and not to remove South Sudan from your agenda.
Peace and stability, as well as the protection and safety of civilians, should be a priority for the members of the UN Security Council,” he added.
