The UN Security Council delegation, currently on a three- day visit to South Sudan, has met with South Sudan’s Senior civil society leaders. The meeting in Juba was aimed to solicit the civil society perspectives on the security situation, their needs, challenges, and the impact of the conflict on communities.

The delegation co-led by co-led by the Permanent Representatives of the Missions of Senegal, Fode Seck,  and the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, arrived in Juba on Friday to engage in discussions on how the UN Mission will continue to work with the government, to improve the security and humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

Ambassador Samantha said the UN Security Council is also here to discuss the Regional Protection Force, a key component of the Mission’s new mandate.

Radio Miraya spoke to Sunday Betty, head of the Women’s Monthly Forum, a civil society organization in Juba, to find out what issues of concern the civil society  raised to the delegates.

Slow implementation of the peace agreement: Civil Society representatives spoke about the persistent delays in implementing the peace agreement to resolve the conflict in South Sudan.

A major issue of concern underlined by the civil society leaders present at the meeting, was the lack of funding to expedite the process of implementing the peace agreement. 

They reminded the UN Security Council, that commitments made by the international community to provide funding in support of the implementation process have been slow. They acknowledged that a significant step was made in signing the agreement, but noted that the government appears to be facing challenges in implementing the peace agreement.

 “If lack of funding is slowing down the implementation of the peace agreement, the UN security council should sit with the Inter-Governmental Authority – IGAD and see how the funding can be secured to push the implementation of the agreement forward,” said Betty.

Earlier, Ambassador Samantha Power said dialogue remains essential to understanding each other and getting the peace process back on course.

Awareness about the Regional Protection Force: The Civil society also called for increased awareness about the Regional Protection Force.

“Awareness should be created so that people should understand that these people are not coming to take over our government, but these people are coming to protect and work together with the government,” said Betty.

Protection of Civilians: According to the Civil Society organizations, the issue of protection needs to be addressed, especially in light of the thousands of people that continue to flee the country for fear of their safety.

Civil Society representatives, said thousands of people are continuing to flee the country because of insecurity, compounded by fears that they are not protected. “If you go around, the villages are all empty, in my view the deployment of regional foreign troops could help.”

In addition, the civil society representatives pointed out that if the foreign troops can help restore security and provide protection to the citizens, then that’s ok. 

“If the foreign troops are coming to protect the civilians, then that’s ok, because it seems the government is not able to protect their people.”

The Civil society also said it is important to integrate the security forces as part of the strategies to pave way for peace in South Sudan.

Commenting on the significance of the meeting with the UN Security Council delegation, Sunday Betty, said, the coming of the UN Security council provides hope to a nation fragmented by insecurity.

“We the people of South Sudan must understand that the coming of the UN Security Council is not going to harm us, but it’s going to help us” she alluded to the African culture that “when you  fight in your house, a neighbor comes to reconcile us.”

The United Nations has stressed that member states are committed to seeing an end to the violence in South Sudan and a return to the full implementation of the peace agreement.