14 April 2015 - To acquaint himself with the overall situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Malakal, the mission’s new deputy chief, Moustapha Soumare, visited the Upper Nile State capital today.

Mr. Soumare, who recently arrived in South Sudan to take up his position as the new Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG), met with State Governor Simon Kun Pouch.

He also met representatives of IDPs at the UNMISS base and visited several locations in Malakal, including the market and Malakal Teaching Hospital.

“This is the first visit for me to Malakal,” said Mr. Soumare. “I was very pleased to meet the governor. We are here to support the people and the government of South Sudan to bring peace to this country.”

The DSRSG said both UNMISS and the government were working with the same objective to bring peace back to the country.

“I will put all my efforts and will put my energy to contribute to that,” he said. “For that, I will need the support of the state and national governments. I think this first visit is an eye-opener and also a learning path.”

Mr. Soumare was briefed by the UNMISS senior management team on the security situation in the state and also conducted a town hall meeting with staff to learn about working conditions in Upper Nile.