A two day awareness workshop on the general mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan has opened in Juba. The forum draws together 60 members of the South Sudan Scouts Association to equip them with knowledge on the most basic obligations of UNMISS in the country.  The workshop is part of a series of workshops planned by the Outreach Unit of the UNMISS Communication and Public Information Section to create awareness of the UN Mission’s mandate in the country to the public. In his opening remarks, the Jubek area Minister for Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Sallah Rajab Bunduki commended the mission for the initiative.

The Minister remarked, “If you can involve our scouts and girl guides they will deliver more to our communities and they will be the ones to go down to the communities to start to disseminate and advocate for the mandate of UNMISS in the residential areas and wherever they go.” 

A two day awareness workshop on the general mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan has opened in Juba. The forum draws together 60 members of the South Sudan Scouts Association to equip them with knowledge on the most basic obligations of UNMISS in the country.  The workshop is part of a series of workshops planned by the Outreach Unit of the UNMISS Communication and Public Information Section to create awareness of the UN Mission’s mandate in the country to the public. In his opening remarks, the Jubek area Minister for Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Sallah Rajab Bunduki commended the mission for the initiative.

The Minister remarked, “If you can involve our scouts and girl guides they will deliver more to our communities and they will be the ones to go down to the communities to start to disseminate and advocate for the mandate of UNMISS in the residential areas and wherever they go.” 

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan has asked the UN Security Council to keep South Sudan a priority for the international community.  Ms Ellen Margrethe Løj said the victims of the conflict still carry hope and have high expectations from the international community.  Ms Løj called on the 15-member body to also consider the future of its people in taking any decisions.  She was briefing the Security Council on the situation in South Sudan before she prepares to leave office at the end of this month.  Her brief highlighted that the security situation in the country, particularly in the Greater Equatorias, in parts of Unity, and Western Bahr el Ghazal states, remained volatile, with frequent attacks that resulted in civilian casualties and displacement, as well as disrupted supply of essential goods, including food.

Ms Loej also said the country must not lose hope for peace.

Parties to the peace agreement are being urged to ensure an inclusive peace process to guarantee sustainable peace.  While opening a stakeholders meeting in Juba today, Festus Mogae, chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission emphasized the importance of full political inclusion and also said the voices and contribution of faith based leaders, women, elders, the private sector, civil society and youth cannot be understated.