Human rights activists and experts that are observing political developments in South Sudan are calling on President Salva Kiir’s administration to urgently address the ongoing conflict that is worsening the humanitarian crisis within the nation.
The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General and Resident Coordinator to the UN’s Mission in South Sudan, Sara Beysolow Nyathi said it is pivotal that peace be forged in the East African nation for there to be development.
“Peace is required at community level for development to take root,” said Nyathi.
Nyathi also reported that South Sudanese authorities have made progress towards implementing the peace agreement, amid a recent visit by Pope Francis that called for peace and unity within the East African nation.
“The major parties to the peace agreements have signed a roadmap that takes us towards elections in December 2024,” she said, adding, “we have also seen forces coming together, being graduated and being given capacity building skills which is very important because if we must have peace in South Sudan, we need a unified force.”
Upon of his departure from South Sudan on Sunday, Pope Francis took to Twitter to reiterate his calls for peace in the East African nation.
Archbishop Stephen Ameyu said the sentiments passed by Pope Francis were timely and pivotal to bringing an end to the civil war.
“It is discouraging that the peace process has moved forward so slowly because war has brought the indiscriminate destruction of human lives,” said Archbishop Ameyu.
“We have been experiencing looting, raping, economic distortion and the displacement of countless people,” he added.
VOA’s James Butty and Sheila Ponnie contributed to this report.
