Civil Society: Guns must go silent

The people of South Sudan have welcomed the UN Security Council, in the hope that the high profile visit will bring lasting peace. 

“From the standpoint of ordinary citizens we engaged with, what matters to them is that the guns go silent, they want to be safe in their homes with their families and the economy should improve,” explained Rajab Muhandis, the Executive Director of the South Sudan Network for Democracy and Election (SSuNDE).

SSuNDE, the largest civil society network in South Sudan, has been a vocal stakeholder in the peace process, reflecting the views of over seventy five (75) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

Muhandis described the decision by the government to accept the deployment of a protection force, as “positive for the cause of peace in South Sudan,” adding that “citizens are anxious to get back to their normal lives.”

According to a joint communique issued after the Council’s visit on Sunday, the Transitional Government of National Unity gave its consent to the deployment, as part of UNMISS, of a 4,000-strong Regional Protection Force recently authorized by the Security Council.

The communiqué said the government will work through the modalities of the deployment, of the protection force, “building upon the consultations of August 25 and September 1 and anticipating further imminent discussions.”

In an interview with UN Radio Miraya, Muhandis hastened to add that that the hopes of the people of South Sudan, do not lie entirely on the regional protection force, but rather on the decisions that the country’s leaders will take to ensure that they restore peace and stability. 

“It is good for the UN Security Council to come; people are dying and we need their help,” said one resident of Juba.

“We are very thankful to the response of the government especially, the President’s decision to accept the deployment of a protection force,” a female resident of Juba told the UN Radio. 

“Whether the force is here or not, we need actions that will make a positive difference in the lives of the citizens,” Muhandis pleaded.

During their visit, the Security Council delegation met with South Sudan’s senior civil society leaders to solicit their perspectives on the security situation, their needs, challenges, and the impact of the conflict on communities.

Church: We welcome UN protection 

While in South Sudan, the 15 Council members visited Wau, in Western Barh-Ghazal to get a first-hand account of the prevailing humanitarian and security conditions on the ground.

“We welcome the visit, because the UN is interested in protecting the lives of the citizens,” said Fr. Moses Peter, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Wau Catholic Church. 

Father Peter said the visit ignited a spark of hope for the 15,000 displaced persons who are sheltering in the church compound in Wau town.

Co-lead delegate U.S Ambassador Samantha Power, thanked the church for opening its doors and assured the IDPs that the UN was working to improve the protection of the people of South Sudan. 

Remarking on the living conditions of the IDPs, Ambassador Power stressed the need for protection saying “nobody would live like this if they felt secure going home.”

The 15 member delegation visited the UN Protection of Civilian sites in Juba and Wau and met with President Salva Kiir and other officials of the Transitional Government of National Unity. 

They also met with civil society groups, faith based organization and senior UN and officials.