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Remarks by Ambassador Geng Shuang at Security Council Briefing on South Sudan

2021-12-15 16:30

Mr. President, 


I thank SRSG, Mr. Haysom, OCHA Director of Coordination, Ms. Saeed and Ambassador Hai Anh Pham for their briefings. I also welcome the presence of the representative of South Sudan at today's meeting. 


South Sudan has, over the recent period, continued to make some headway in implementing the Revitalized Agreement. President Kiir reconstituted state assemblies, and the Government adopted the constitution making process bill. We hope that the signatories to the agreement will strengthen engagement, enhance mutual trust, resolve their differences properly through dialogue, expedite the implementation of the agreement and keep South Sudan stable at the political level. South Sudan faces a number of practical difficulties in implementing the agreement, which cannot be resolved in one fell swoop. Necessary patience is called for on the part of the international community, which should provide needed support and try not to resort solely to finger pointing and pressurization. China commends the efforts of IGAD, AU and the regional countries to facilitate the implementation of the agreement, and calls on the international community to continue its support for the work of the reconstituted joint monitoring and evaluation commission. 


During the reporting period, the ceasefire in South Sudan was able to hold by and large. But factional and inter-communal clashes continue to occur from time to time. The holdout groups that have yet to sign the Revitalized Agreement must renounce the use of violence and join the political process without delay. Unifying military forces and the DDR process will help improve the security situation in the country. China calls on the international community to provide such financial support as it's needed for this purpose. South Sudan's inter-communal conflict goes back a long way. It should be addressed appropriately through a holistic approach that combines prevention, mediation, justice and other means. 


Armed Conflict, floods and other events have conspired to try a sustained rise in South Sudan's humanitarian needs, especially food insecurity. While ramping up humanitarian assistance, the international community should help South Sudan develop its economy and unleash its potential in agriculture, energy and other areas. At the recent opening ceremony of the eighth ministerial conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Chinese President His Excellency Mr. Xi Jinping unveiled nine projects to be implemented with Africa in such areas as health, poverty reduction, trade and investment, which we believe will lend fresh impetus to the development of South Sudan and other African countries. China calls on the countries concerned to lift their unilateral coercive measures against South Sudan without delay. 


UNMISS, with SRSG Haysom at the helm, has done a huge amount of work to inter alia help implement the agreement and to protect civilians. As per the Council's presidential statement No. 20 of this year, the Secretary-General is requested to establish an integrated electoral assistance team for South Sudan's 2023 elections, which will be led by UNMISS. The elections are a matter of peace and stability for South Sudan and the international community must fully respect the country's ownership in this respect. During the reporting period, there was a significant reduction in the violations of the Status of Forces Agreement, which is ample proof that enhanced engagement and communication between UN missions and host countries does help create enabling conditions for the mission’s mandate implementation. 


In conclusion, I'd like to reiterate that this Council should assess on the basis of facts how South Sudan has been implementing the benchmarks necessary for adjusting the sanctions measures, lift sanctions against South Sudan as soon as possible, and help its Government strengthen capacity building in its security sector. 


I thank you, Mr. President.


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