A3+ Statement delivered by H.E. Pedro Comissário, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Mozambique to the UN, at the Security Council meeting on Sudan and South Sudan

Mr. President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+, namely Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone and my own country, Mozambique.

We express our appreciation to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, Mr. Nicholas Haysom; to the interim Chair of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission of South Sudan, Major General Charles Tai Gituai and to the Director of Operations and Advocacy of OCHA, Ms. Edem Wosornu, for their insightful briefings.

We take note of the Advisory Opinion of the Peacebuilding Commission and welcome the participation of the Representative of South Sudan in this meeting.

Mr. President,

Since our last meeting, the political dynamics in South Sudan continued to be shaped around the prospect of elections.

For the first time in its history, South Sudan is preparing to carry out this sovereign exercise, a milestone in its journey towards consolidating the rule of law and democracy.

We note some positive steps towards this endeavour, particularly in operationalizing the technical electoral bodies, such as the formation of State High Election bodies and implementing the transitional arrangements.

The agreement to commence the training of the second batch of the Necessary Unified Forces is also a commendable development. It reflects the commitment of relevant parties to address critical issues of the transitional arrangements.

Nevertheless, with the announcement of elections for 22 December 2024, it is of utmost urgency that parties redouble their efforts in the implementation of the Transition Roadmap and engage in inclusive discussions to build consensus on practical and realistic steps to hold elections as scheduled.

We note, in this regard, the engagements in the framework of the Tumaini Initiative and we encourage the Transitional Government to continue this inclusive approach.

We also urge all stakeholders to approach the dialogue in a constructive spirit, prioritizing the interest of the south Sudanese people. These engagements are critical to create a peaceful electoral environment and prevent the escalation of hostilities.

Additionally, we stress the need of continued support from the international community, including the United Nations, the African Union and the IGAD. Such support is critical, particularly in strengthening capacity of the South Sudanese institutions involved in the preparation of elections.

Mr. President,

The A3+ remains concerned about the persistence of cattle-related intercommunal violence, killings and abductions, that continued to impact the security situation in some parts of the country, including Abyei.

In this vein, we encourage UNMISS to strengthen its support for protection of civilians and mitigation of violence, giving special focus to programmes aimed to promote peaceful coexistence among and between communities.

Equally important is the support to humanitarian assistance, taking into account that over 7.1 million people are experiencing high levels of famine. This is a sad reality, exacerbated by the effects of climate change, the fragile economic situation and the influx of refugees and returnees from the Sudan.

In this regard, we concur with the Advisory Opinion of the Peacebuilding Commission which encourages the South Sudanese authorities to work in close partnership with all actors to tackle the underlying root causes of the serious economic situation in the country.

We also underline the urgency of scaling up humanitarian funding, to meet the needs of the most vulnerable. We further encourage continued work to address the challenges faced by humanitarian workers.

Mr. President, the A3+ would like to reiterate its full support to UNMISS, for their dedication towards peace and stability of South Sudan.

We stand in solidarity with the people of South Sudan and renew our commitment to continue to support this young nation, to overcome its challenges and thrive in the international community.

I thank you, Mr. President!