4 July 2014 - Bidding farewell to the Greater Equatoria region, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG) for South Sudan Hilde F. Johnson, today visited the Eastern Equatoria State capital Torit.

The UNMISS chief, who will complete her three-year tenure at the helm of the peacekeeping mission on 8 July, met with State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore and members of his cabinet.

Ms. Johnson thanked the state government for cooperating and working closely with UNMISS, especially at the height of the current crisis which saw strained relations between the Mission and the national government.

“The (Greater Equatoria region) states have been supportive. I thank you for your cooperation with UNMISS,” she said, adding that her visit also symbolized a visit to Central and Western Equatoria states.

Ms. Johnson spoke to the government officials about the new UNMISS mandate, noting that the mandate would change if the situation in the country improved.

“For now, protection of civilians, human rights monitoring and reporting, facilitation of the delivery of humanitarian assistance and support to the peace process are priorities,” she said.

Governor Lojore said the new mandate, which does not include support to state authority and capacity building as the previous one did, was unfavourable to Eastern Equatoria State.

He pledged however, that his government would respect the new mandate and continue to work well with UNMISS.
He called on the outgoing UNMISS chief to become an “ambassador” of South Sudan wherever she went.

“We wish you could continue with us, but there is nothing we can do about it,” he said. “We will not forget you and please do not forget us.”