UN Peacekeeping Chief Discusses Human Rights

UN Peacekeeping Chief Discusses Human Rights, Democracy With South Sudanese Leader

Protecting human rights, enshrining democracy and improving inter-Sudanese relations topped the agenda today during talks today between the new chief of United Nations peacekeeping chief and South Sudan’s President.

Hervé Ladsous, who took up the post of Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations last month, met with President Salva Kiir in Akon, a town in Warrap state in the recently established country of South Sudan.

The UN has a large peacekeeping mission (UNMISS) in South Sudan to help the nascent country’s authorities consolidate peace, develop State institutions, protect civilians, establish the rule of law and boost economic development.

Speaking after his meeting with Mr. Kiir, Mr. Ladsous described their talks as friendly and constructive.

“I wanted to have an exchange with the President about the general situation to confirm to him that the United Nations are ready, always in all circumstances, to help in building the State, in developing human rights and democracy, and also to help in the relationship between the south and the north,” he said.

South Sudan became independent on 9 July after voters overwhelmingly backed secession from Sudan in a referendum held as part of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended the long-running north-south civil war in Sudan.

Mr. Ladsous has spent two days in South Sudan on this visit, his first to the field since taking office. He has already travelled to Darfur, Abyei and the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, to meet with senior Government and UN officials.

The Under-Secretary-General said he was keen to obtain a first-hand assessment of the situation facing UNMISS and the other two UN missions in the area – Darfur (UNAMID) and Abyei (UNISFA).

“We have to make progress on the protection of the civilians who find themselves in regions of conflict and violence. We have to push the peace process in Darfur. We have to watch very carefully and encourage Khartoum and Juba to further work on the relationship between the two countries.”

ENDS

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