JIPDD urges new UNMISS chief to restore trust between South Sudanese and UNMISS
We must stop accusing the UN of war that we initiated and fueled by ourselves
By Mach Samuel Peter, Bor, Jonglei State
SRSG to United Nation mission in South Sudan Mr. David Shearer
January 21, 2017 (SSB) — The Jonglei Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (JIPDD) a civil society group based in Bor, Jonglei state has urged the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General SRSG to South Sudan Mr. David Shearer of New Zealand to restore the trust and respect of the united nation mission in South Sudan.
There are misleading propaganda and unfounded baseless information cooked by some institutions and interests groups to tarnish the face of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
Following the crisis which erupted in Juba, the wide protest which denounced the biasness of the United Nations and its successive failures in Africa was an abuse to such an international organization.
The resolution adapted by the IGAD Council of Ministers in its 56th Extraordinary Summit on the 11th July 2016 in Nairobi Kenya that resolved Juba International Airport to be sheltered by UNMISS and urgent foreign troops intervention in South Sudan had subjected UNMISS to unnecessary negative critism by many including the church.
Earnestly, it likely discredited and scraped UNMISS outstanding achievements over the span of 12 years in one week.
The Jonglei Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (JIPDD) a civil society group urges the mission mandate of protection of civilians to be disseminated across South Sudan to enlighten the common man understand how this mandate affect them.
“We also urge you to initiative set of activities through Quick Impact Projects (QIP) that bring together CBOs, CSOs, church group, traditional leaders, village youth, town youth, women groups, and these activities include wrestling competition and traditional dances accompanied by music performances, workshop, radio talk shows, public discussions and beauty contest to help bring people together to understand the UNMISS mandate in South Sudan.
Lack of civic educators and local actors who inform and educate communities has helped fuel the recent demonstrations that UNMISS must go. The prejudices and stereotypes about peace keepers have been whispered into the ears of the information marginalized youth and citizens at large. The lack of public awareness to minimize political manipulation, and encourage the citizen to response in an informed manner in support to UNMISS mission is threat to mission existence.
JIPDD encourages you having been Chief of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Belgrade to improve the deteriorating humanitarian situation in South Sudan especially in Upper Nile and Equatoria region.
On your first address to the people of South Sudan, you said and we quoted “I come with a very fresh and open mind about South Sudan, …I’m going to be spending my first few weeks in listening mode, in just hearing what people have got to say to me”, in regard to this statement JIPDD looks forward to seeing a new page open by UNMISS.
Finally JIPDD urges the people of South Sudan to respect the United Nations mission in South Sudan. We cannot afford to lose the UN given the current state of affairs of economic meltdown and humanitarian crisis. We must also bear in mind the indispensible support of the UN to the nation of south Sudan in the past 12 years and before during the days in the refugee camps in East Africa.
“We must stop accusing the UN of war that we initiated and fuel by ourselves. Now that the war is affecting us economically, socially and politically, we must not use UNMISS as scapegoat in our senseless war.
This piece was written by Mach Samuel reachable at machsamuelpeter@gmail.com
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