20 February 2013 - The South Sudanese government should develop a new roadmap for a lasting solution for ending conflict in Jonglei State, the head of UNMISS said in Pibor today.

Concluding her two-day visit to Jonglei, Special Representatives of the Secretary General (SRSG) Hilde F. Johnson said the government and community must find a new approach to end the cycle of violence incapacitating the state.

"We are eagerly waiting for the government's plans and roadmaps ... We will be able to discuss... our support when that has been tabled," she said.

Emphasizing that the primary responsibility for protecting civilians lay with the government, Ms. Johnson said UNMISS also had a plan.

"We have a contingency plan for worst case scenarios and how we can help protect civilians in hotspots of the state," she said. "We are ready to deploy additional troops to make that happen. (But) the most important thing is to prevent significant escalation of conflict."

Accompanied by UNMISS Force Commander Maj. Gen. Delali Johnson Sakyi, Human Rights Director Richard Bennet and Civil Affairs Director Ali Hassan, the SRSG visited Akobo and Pibor counties. A recent cattle raid in the Walgak area of Akobo left dozens of civilians dead.

"It is in every community's interest to have peace with each other.....there is no win-lose situation," Ms. Johnson said. "No one is a winner here. Everyone is a loser if the cycle of violence continues."

Meeting with Pibor County Commissioner Joshua Konyi, community leaders, paramount chiefs and representatives of women and youth, the UN envoy encouraged them to work for peace and stability.

"Now is a time to stop attacks.....any attacks would destabilize not only this area but also the entire (of) Jonglei State," she said. "We need to find a way that the threat that David Yau Yau poses can also be contained."