Thank you, President. Thank you SRSG Haysom, Major General Gituai, and Professor Impagliazzo.
I also welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of South Sudan in our meeting.
President, as we have heard fighting across the border in Sudan has exacerbated the already critical humanitarian situation in South Sudan. Over 119,000 people have now been registered crossing the border. Moving to areas already faced with significant humanitarian needs, and aggravating political and intercommunal tensions.
The United Kingdom welcomes the Government of South Sudan's provision of transportation for people returning home. We encourage all efforts to maintain the safety and security of all returnees and host communities.
We commend the UN system and humanitarian partners for their swift response to the crisis and urge an agile strategy and careful risk management in this evolving context.
The United Kingdom is particularly concerned by the recent intercommunal fighting in the Malakal Protection of Civilian camp, resulting in the reported killing of 13 people and the burning of the homes of 4,000 residents.
We welcome the response by UNMISS peacekeepers to de-escalate these tensions and their wider efforts to protect civilians across South Sudan.
To prevent further tragedies occurring we need to urgently find solutions to the tensions in Malakal and address the root causes of South Sudan's fragility.
The United Kingdom reiterates our call on the South Sudanese Government to do all it can to stop sub-national violence, provide basic services for its people and deliver meaningful progress on its peace agreement.
We welcome the recent establishment of a Joint Electoral and Constitution-making Taskforce, co-chaired by SRSG Haysom. However, electoral and constitution-making processes are now over nine months behind schedule, as we heard, with the National Elections Act and National Constitutional Review Commission still awaiting reconstitution.
Legislation alone will not deliver sustainable peace in South Sudan. Laws need to be enacted, and the institutions they create need to be financed. There needs to be a peace dividend.
The United Kingdom remains committed to the people of South Sudan, and their journey towards peace and stability.
We call on the Government of South Sudan to expedite this journey by stopping the violence, ending corruption, and delivering justice, essential services and free and fair elections for its people.
Thank you.
