Paul Egunsola, Chief of Staff of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, recently concluded a two-day tour of Eastern Equatoria State, where he met with fellow peacekeepers, representatives of UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes, and the community of the Kuron Peace Village.

In this interview, Egunsola speaks about his visit, among other matters.

What has most marked you about Eastern Equatoria State during your visit?

Well, when I compare the current situation to what it was during my visit to the State last year, I am happy to see communities who are enjoying some peace and stability harness their new-found opportunities to build back their lives.

What would you say are some of the challenges faced by UNMISS when it comes to implementing the peacekeeping mission’s mandate?

Generally, the challenges in peacekeeping are similar for many locations. However, here in Eastern Equatoria State, I see a multitude of needs which require strict prioritization. Also, the state covers a vast geographical area, which means we need to do more to improve mobility and access to such difficult areas as the Kuron Peace Village, where we are now, and other locations in Kapoeta. This is crucial because I don’t want our mission in the state to be overly focused on Torit.

What are your thoughts on the peacekeeping Mission’s coordination with other UN bodies operating in Eastern Equatoria and South Sudan?

First of all, I have been impressed about the considerable presence of UN entities in this State, and to see that we are all located in the same place. Judging from our engagements during this visit, there is a good deal of collaboration between the Mission and the rest of the UN family. Certainly, the benefits of collaboration and coordination are immense, but the challenge is how to ensure that these are consistently achieved. For instance, here in the Kuron Peace Village, we have constructed the St Thomas Secondary School with funding from our Quick Impact Projects, which are small-scale, low-cost projects; while UN agencies are better placed to cater to other identified needs of the school, which fall within the realm of humanitarian and developmental aid. In addition, several projects proposed under the Multi-Donor Trust Fund will definitely require UN-wide collaboration.

What are your hopes for the UN mission for the next twelve months?

The Security Council has, justifiably, renewed the Mission’s mandate to focus on the four key areas of protection of civilians; creating conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance; monitoring, investigating, and reporting on human rights abuses and violations; and supporting the implementation of the revitalized agreement and the peace process. However, we cannot achieve all of that without thinking about the future. And that future is one of peace, sustainable development which can only be achieved by the South Sudanese, and their leaders, themselves.

That said, the only framework we currently have to achieve these goals is the peace deal. As such, we will continue to support the aspirations of the South Sudanese to make peace irreversible.

What are your wishes for the people of South Sudan as the country marks its 11th Independence Anniversary?

With the exception of the first anniversary, I have had the opportunity to celebrate all the other Independence Days of this young country together with its people. This means I have been here for a long time and have seen the ups and downs, including the signing of the revitalized peace agreement and the profound effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges faced by the people of South Sudan, I see many positive developments. If you look at Juba now, for instance, the city has become very lively. I am hoping this continues and that in the next couple of years, we can talk about a South Sudan that is at peace with itself, and that is using the potential of all its communities to develop.