"The desire for peace [in South Sudan] is palpable" - Special Representative

UN Special Representative for South Sudan David Shearer said the peace agreement in the country continues to hold adding that the drop in political violence “has meant hundreds, if not thousands of people, are alive who otherwise would not be.”
Addressing the Security Council today (25 Jun), Shearer said many displaced families “have decided it is safe, and time, to return to their homes,” with more than half a million people having done so since the revitalized peace agreement was signed.
The Special Representative however highlighted that the latest food security analysis remained dire with some seven million people facing crisis levels or worse. Still, for the first time in years, some counties would see slight improvements where relative calm has enabled households to resume cultivation. He said these positive signs come from a very low base but represent a glimmer of what is possible with peace, adding that it was vital that this trend continued.
Shearer stressed that the desire for peace in the country is palpable and there is a fierce aversion to any renewal of fighting. However, he observed that the pace of dialogue and peacebuilding at the grassroots level was moving much faster than amongst the elites negotiating nationally.
SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan, United Nations:
“Mr. President, we should be frank. The fighting has stopped because the leaders ordered their soldiers to stop. If it resumes - against the will of the people - it will be because those same leaders want it, and ordered it, to happen.”
The Special Representative told the Council that, while disappointing, the postponement of the formation of a transitional government will give time to resolve outstanding issues that might otherwise derail the peace deal. The African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, IGAD, and the UN have been working collectively to support the process and are strongly unified in their position that the six-month extension must be the last one.
SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan, United Nations:
“We should see the peace agreement as a living document, not set in stone. There are no pre-transitional tasks that cannot be achieved within a unified transitional administration. In fact, there are advantages to decisions made collectively within a transitional government, because they will be made collectively, transparently, and will be better able to be held to account by citizens.”
Shearer noted that in two weeks, South Sudan will celebrate its 8th anniversary of gaining independence adding that with “that sovereignty comes responsibility, an obligation that is acknowledged only rarely, including for leaders to use the country s resources in the best interests of their citizens, and not their own.” He said, “The message from the people of South Sudan that we have heard in that regard is very clear. Live up to your responsibility and give us peace.”