Source: U.S. Embassy in Juba |

People of South Sudan to U.S. Delegation: “We Want the Politicians to Act”

JUBA, South Sudan, February 12, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ --

On February 10 and 11, a senior level delegation from the U.S. government visited South Sudan in order to review UNMISS operations.  The review allowed the delegation to identify what critical capabilities the United States might offer in order to implement President Obama's commitment to strengthen U.S. support for UN peacekeeping operations globally.  The U.S. government has a specific interest in ensuring that UNMISS is able to fulfill its mandate to protect civilians and enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance. 

The four-person delegation was led by Mr. Brian P. McKeon, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and included the following members: Ms. Shannon Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for East African affairs; Ms. Anne Witkowsky, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Humanitarian and Peacekeeping Operations; and Vice Admiral Michael Franken, Deputy Commander for military operations for the U.S. Africa military command. 

While in Juba the delegation met with President Salva Kiir Mayardit, General Taban Deng Gai, Chief Negotiator for the SPLM/A-IO, Former Detainee Deng Alor Kuol, and other South Sudanese leaders.  The delegation also met with UNMISS civilian and military officials, including the UNMISS Rwandan battalion.  They visited Protection of Civilians (POC) Camp Three in Juba and met with camp leaders, and consulted with international NGOs providing humanitarian assistance.  On February 11, the delegation traveled to Unity State and visited Leer town and Thonyor.  They met with local officials from the government and IO, as well as UNMISS and NGO representatives.  They had the opportunity to observe the contributions of the UNMISS Mongolian battalion.   

Given the stalemate in finalizing the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU), the delegation pressed all parties on the need to exercise their responsibilities and form the TGoNU without delay. 

Delays in implementation of the peace agreement are jeopardizing lives – over 2.6 million people face life-threatening hunger.  To help alleviate the suffering of South Sudanese, the humanitarian community needs to pre-position 150,000 metric tons of food and other humanitarian supplies before the rainy season.  The delegation welcomed commitments from all parties that UNMISS and humanitarians would be permitted unfettered access to carry out its mandate and that humanitarian organizations would be allowed to operate without resistance in order to meet the needs of the people of South Sudan. 

McKeon stated, “Wherever I went, the message I heard was that the people want the politicians to act.  Nowhere was that clearer than from the men and women in the POC.”

The United States will remain a strong partner and friend to the people of South Sudan.  We urge all parties to accelerate the difficult work ahead to implement the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Juba.