21 January 2013 - South Sudan has laid one of the key building blocks for democracy by establishing a rule of law system, said the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for South Sudan, Hilde F. Johnson, during a visit to the Western Equatoria state capital of Yambio today.

Ms. Johnson highlighted some of the key accomplishments of UNMISS to date during a meeting with Governor Joseph Bakosoro, members of his cabinet and the deputy speaker of the Western Equatoria State Legislative Assembly. These included capacity-building programs for officers of the South Sudan National Police Service and the entering of the names of 49,500 of such officers into a database.

"You have established ... the basic foundation for democracy done in an inclusive manner," said Ms. Johnson.

Noting that UNMISS is facing some challenges such as a shortage of qualified engineering companies in South Sudan, the SRSG voiced hope that the situation would improve in the coming months.

Ms. Johnson revealed that UNMISS plans to construct a five-kilometre road in Yambio and implement water projects to benefit the residents of six counties across South Sudan where the mission currently operates support bases.

"I will work hard with other UN agencies to make sure that there are funds for other small quick impact projects," said Ms. Johnson.

The SRSG later met with representatives of civil society organizations in Western Equatoria and the commander of the African Union regional task force that was established in March 2012 to eliminate the Lord's Resistance Army rebels led by Joseph Kony.