[Near Verbatim]
Juba - I welcome all of you to UNMISS as we gather to celebrate the life and the legacy of our late Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Nicholas ‘Fink’ Haysom. Today we come together not only in sorrow, but in deep gratitude for a life defined by service to peace, justice, and humanity.
As I saw the rain pour down this morning and then the sun come out, I’m reminded by one of my favorite African proverbs that goes: “However, dark the night, the sun will always surely come”.
Standing before you today to speak about a truly extraordinary and towering leader feels like an impossible task. How does one condense into a few minutes a man whose wisdom shaped nations, whose dedication inspired so many, and whose humility touched every life he encountered?
Fink was a strong leader, a passionate human rights advocate, and simply a kind soul. No words can fully capture his razor-sharp intellect, eloquence, keen judgment, principles, and the grace with which he led and inspired all of us.
In a world continually tested by conflict, Fink never wavered in his belief that dialogue is our most powerful tool. He worked tirelessly to create space for inclusive engagement, to bring voices together, rather than allow them to drift apart. Day after day, he devoted himself to pulling our shared humanity back from the brink of war. Until his final days, he held fast to the conviction that peace is always possible, and that it is our collective responsibility to pursue it.
As the Special Representative and Head of Mission, he was deeply committed to the nation-building project of South Sudan. Drawing on his own personal experiences in the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa, as an activist, advocate, and constitution-making expert, he understood how nations heal and how they rebuild.
He hoped to help shepherd South Sudan toward its first ever democratic elections. Fink emphasized the need for a social contract as the ultimate foundation of a healthy democracy, often arguing for government as a mirror of its people — a reflection of their aspirations, hopes, and values. He championed the need for a shared South Sudan vision and the importance of creating space for every community, every voice, and every citizen.
A hallmark of Fink’s leadership was the simplicity and clarity with which he approached even the most complex political challenges. He always reminded South Sudan leaders that at the heart of peace lies the truth: the ability to live together. He encouraged them consistently to find a way to coexist, to reconcile, and to look beyond personal or political divides.
He reinforced this principle often, capturing it in one of his favorite quotes “the doctor cannot take medicine for the patient”. For peace to take root, the people must own the process. Our role, as he saw it, was to support, to encourage, and to accompany - not to impose.
Fink’s presence had gravitas. His reputation was larger than life. Yet his humility and humaneness were unique. He treated everyone with dignity and respect. He illuminated every single room he walked into, yet gave space to the people in it, and consistently put them at the center. Fink never lost sight of the people we serve and their expectations of all of us.
As the Secretary-General stated, ‘the legacy of Nicholas Haysom will endure in the peace processes he advanced, the institutions he strengthened, and the principles he helped bring to life around the world’.
South Sudan has lost a true advocate and a friend. May Nicholas “Fink” Haysom rest in eternal peace. And may we honor him through our continued dedication to the ideals he championed so passionately.
Thank you.