Thursday 26th September 2024 , New York
Delivered by:
Hon. Ramadan Mohammed Abdallah Goc
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the onset, allow me to extend warm greetings and congratulations on behalf of H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit to your Excellency Philemon Yang, on your election as President of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit would have loved to be here but could not due to competing demands. The Republic of South Sudan stands ready to support you during your tenure at the helm of the General Assembly.
Allow me to also warmly bid farewell to H.E. Ambassador Dennis Francis, the President of the 78th session of the General Assembly, for his stellar work in service of the ideals of the UN Charter.
We are especially grateful for his proactive leadership, as illustrated by the goodwill visit to South Sudan in June this year, which he undertook in support of the ongoing efforts to consolidate peace, security, and development in our country.
Mr. President,
The theme of the 79th Session, “Leaving no one behind acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations,” speaks directly to the present state of global affairs. The ideals and values envisioned in the UN Charter are as important, relevant, and crucial now as they were at the founding of this noble organization on October 24th, 1945. They remain essential to addressing serious global challenges, from conflict, unrestrained nationalism, geopolitical competition, food insecurity, climatic shocks, natural disasters, menacing pandemics, and threats to international peace and security.
Mr. President,
The Revitalized Government of National Unity, as repeatedly stated by H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit, is fully committed to consolidating peace in our country. The implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (RARCSS) is the primary vehicle for ensuring peace and stability in our country.
Thus far, we have made tangible progress in our quest for durable peace and political stability in the country, but we have been constrained by resource challenges to fully meet key benchmarks of the agreement. Nonetheless, all the signatories to the peace accord remain steadfast in consolidating the gains made so far in the form of relative stability and joining hands to complete the rest of the outstanding elements. This unity of purpose was illustrated in the recent endorsement by the cabinet, the Revitalized Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JEMC), and the Revitalized National Legislature of a 24-month extension of the transitional period, paving the way for the organization of free and fair general elections in December 2026.
The decision to postpone the elections as previously scheduled was justified by the fact that essential security sector mechanisms and elections-related institutions require more time to fulfill their mandate. Mobilization of funds to complete these important tasks that are critical to the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections in the Republic of South Sudan also demands more time. Most importantly, the process of constitution-making covers a series of activities and requires an adequate time frame for effective consultations with all stakeholders to ensure that a broadly accepted constitution is adopted. We, therefore, call on the United Nations and the broader International Community to join us in ensuring that this new roadmap for a peaceful transition in South Sudan is met by availing the required financial and technical support for the process.
Furthermore, I am pleased to report that the Revitalized Government is currently engaged in robust and promising negotiations with hold-out groups through the Tumaini Initiative under the auspices of the Government of the Republic of Kenya to address all grievances and guarantee their return to the country.
Mr. President,
Over the last year, the conflict in Sudan has created one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, as stated by the United Nations. As an immediate neighbor, we have been impacted by this conflict, with about 800,000 refugees and returnees fleeing the war and settling in South Sudan. While we profoundly appreciate the efforts of the UN and humanitarian agencies working to alleviate the suffering of the victims of this conflict, we strongly encourage support for the IGAD peace initiative to bring about peace to Sudan.
Furthermore, we also believe that the international community’s support for the victims of the war remains inadequate and unresponsive to the impact on the host communities that are also grappling with serious humanitarian challenges. Therefore, we are calling on the international community to expand their support and closely engage with the government of South Sudan to mitigate the negative impacts of war on all victims.
Mr. President,
It is worth mentioning that the conflict in the Republic of Sudan has directly impacted the economic situation in South Sudan, with oil production significantly reduced since April this year. Given the fact that our economy is entirely reliant on revenue from the sale of our crude oil transported through Port Sudan on the Red Sea, we urge the international community to double its efforts toward resolving the conflict in Sudan. We further call for more solidarity with South Sudan as it struggles to overcome and withstand the dire economic impacts created by the conflict in Sudan.
Mr. President,
In the last 70 years, half a billion people in Africa alone have been affected by the impacts of climate change. As a result, South Sudan battles and suffers from the devastating impacts of flood and drought. Millions of people have been displaced, and many lives have been lost due to floods and drought. Therefore, there is a need to scale up adaptation action and support to ensure an adequate response in the context of the climate crisis. Moreover, we strongly urge developed countries to exercise greater leadership by expanding their financial contribution to the required global mitigation and adaptation interventions, as trillions of dollars are needed annually to tackle the crisis and restore trust in the multilateral system.
Mr. President,
South Sudan recently conducted its first Voluntary National Review on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the recommendations emerging from the findings are informing our immediate interventions. Moreover, Our Revised National Development Strategy and annual budgets are crafted around a commitment to the SDGs. Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance and Planning and the National Bureau of Statistics, with support from UN agencies and development partners, are working to strengthen the capacity of the National Statistical System to collect quality and analyze timely and reliable data.
The Government is actively mobilizing resources to conduct the national population and housing census, thus ensuring evidence-based planning and delivery of essential services. As South Sudan capacitates its statistical system and bolsters its analytical capabilities, the Government is using the multi-dimensional poverty index (MPI) measures to guide related policies, designing multifaceted interventions to improve the lives of the disadvantaged groups and track progress.
Mr. President,
In recognition of the role of women in public life, I am delighted to report that South Sudan is making great strides in gender equality. The government of South Sudan believes that the active engagement of women in governance and decision-making is critical to ensuring the implementation of the commitments contained in R-ARCISS, the Maputo Protocol, the National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, and the SDG’s 2030 agenda and African Union Agenda 2063. UNSCR 1325 is a particularly powerful advocacy tool for equal representation in national governance.
As a reflection of our commitment to gender equity, South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution enshrined a 35% affirmative action provision for women in all levels of governance. The peace agreement also mandates the establishment of the Women Enterprise Fund, which shall serve as a vehicle for availing resources that can leverage the entrepreneurial and innovative energies of our dynamic female population. We strongly believe that all these initiatives align with the theme of leaving no one behind.
Mr. President,
South Sudan is a young country in terms of its population, with young people constituting over 70% of the population. This demographic reality can be harnessed for a brighter future through proactive and progressive investment in the youth. The Republic of South Sudan aims to develop a robust education policy that is focused on unlocking this potential through job creation and innovation and benchmarked under the provisions enshrined in the African Youth Charter and United Nations resolutions on Youth-related empowerment.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports and our National Assembly are jointly working on legislation for the National Youth Service and Youth Enterprise Development Fund. Once adopted, these two laws shall create the necessary conditions for the empowerment of our youth. Therefore, we call on the United Nations and the international community to augment our efforts to enhance the level of technical and financial support to the government in the spirit of our common agenda and a better future envisioned by the Pact for the Future agreed to at the recently concluded Summit of the Future.
Mr. President,
South Sudan’s Universal Health Coverage service index is among the lowest in the region and globally. This is attributed to the conflict, economic crises in the country, and consequences of climate change, resulting in a fragile health system. Maternal and infant mortality rates remain the worst in the world.
As such, the Government of The Republic of South Sudan commits to investing in affordable, accessible, and standard-strengthened healthcare systems. We are committed to the optimal health and well-being of our citizens via a primary healthcare approach as the most inclusive, equitable, and cost-effective path to universal health coverage. Provision of Preventive health services through national programs, such as Malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB (ATM) and routine immunization and maternal and child health programs, including nutritional health services, is crucial for the reduction of the economic burden of healthcare expenditures for households and the healthcare system.
Pandemic preparedness and response through a multisector approach put us on a path to tackle public health emergencies, such as responding to the current MPOX pandemic and other disease epidemics in the country. Most importantly, our commitment to address the burden of both infectious disease and the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, as we aim at reducing morbidity and mortality rates, remains our top priority.
Succeeding to achieve all the above will promote the Sustainable Development Goals of health targets of 2030, which will enhance the strategies for the “Africa we Want” by 2063.
Mr. President,
As part of our commitment to transforming education, the government of South Sudan recognizes every child’s right to quality education as well as addressing the issues of access, equity, and inclusion. Based on this premise, the government’s commitment has been translated into several actions or interventions. Primarily, His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit reiterated the government’s policy of universal basic education for all children regardless of their background or gender in February 2023.
This has made a considerable impact not only in improving enrollment and retention in schools but also in combating early and forced marriages that have often compelled many girls to drop out of school. Consequently, we have achieved enrolment and retention of almost 3 million learners at the primary education level, almost attaining gender parity.
Mr. President,
As you are aware, H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit, as the incumbent Chairperson of the East African Community, has consistently emphasized the need for the maintenance of peace and security in the East African region, the Great Lakes, and the Horn of Africa. The President’s efforts align with the theme of this 79th session of the General Assembly and the Secretary General’s call in the Summit of the Future.
Mr. President,
One of the main impediments to South Sudan’s full realization of sustainable peace and security is the fact that the Security Council continues to maintain sanctions, individually targeted sanctions, and the arms embargo despite our calls, the calls from the African Union, and IGAD to lift it. These punitive measures have created a negative impact, restraining South Sudan’s full potential by preventing the government from maintaining effective deterrence against negative non-state actors that foment violence and insecurity.
Moreover, potential investors in various sectors believe that the country is under broad sanctions and, as a result, refrain from investing in the country. As a country, we have experienced relative peace and stability for the last six years, and the continued imposition of these punitive measures is not reflective of the progress we have made so far.
Mr. President,
For any meaningful peace and security to prevail in the world, we urgently call for the reform of the Security Council to be fit for purpose in today’s global dynamics and realities. The United Nations has been an integral element in this effort, but it has to evolve in its processes and structures to more optimally address contemporary problems. It is in this context that we join the call for the expansion of the UN Security Council to incorporate the voice of Africans in an equitable way that reflects the continent’s weight and relevance in the maintenance of global order and stability.
Therefore, I want to hereby state that South Sudan supports the Ezulwini Consensus (Africa’s position) unequivocally as the most optimal way to restructure the Security Council. The reform proposal announced recently, which grants Africa two permanent seats at the Security Council without veto power, is counterproductive and falls short of the spirit of inclusive and equitable global governance that we have been calling for.
This only exacerbates the current inequities and fails to achieve the illusive consensus and cooperation required at the Security Council. South Sudan, therefore, calls for a text-based negotiation, which is more viable and will lead to a Security Council with enhanced credibility and acceptance.
Mr. President,
In conclusion, I wish to restate our appreciation for your leadership of this 79th Session of the UN General Assembly, as well as express our commitment to the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations.
I thank you.