Statement by Representative of Slovenia to the UN Security Council Ambassador Samuel Žbogar at the briefing on the Reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan and South Sudan

Thank you very much, Mr. President.

I also want to thank the three briefers for their briefings, Special Representative Haysom, Director Wosornu and Major General Tai Gituai. I also want to thank them fortheir continuous commitment to supporting South Sudan under increasingly challenging conditions. I also want to welcome the representative of South Sudan to the chamber.

Thirteen years after gaining independence, South Sudan continues to face several challenges. Ensuring peace and stability is fundamentally linked to the full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement. We emphasize the need for tangible advancements and call upon the Transitional Government to take decisive steps towards implementing the Roadmap. Slovenia is ready to stand by South Sudan in its final act of implementing the Agreement.

Given the significant concerns about electoral preparedness and potential risks, Slovenia urges South Sudan to operationalize electoral institutions and key elements for the elections. Many critical tasks remain unfinished, including voter registration, the electoral security plan, and the permanent constitutional framework. The unification of the national forces remains incomplete. It is imperative to address these gaps without delay.

We stress the importance of upholding and safeguarding the right to vote, freedom of speech, peaceful assembly and expression. Safe democratic and civic space is a precondition for the full implementation of the Peace Agreement and the conduct of free and fair elections.

We are deeply alarmed by the severe impact of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which places an overwhelming burden on South Sudan’s already limited resources and fragile communities. It is deepening the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan where, we heard today, already 75 percent of the population depend on humanitarian aid and protection.

With historic high water levels in Lake Victoria, Slovenia echoes alarms about the need to protect over 3 million people who face the threat of flooding in the coming months. We welcome the continuous efforts of UNMISS to adapt to climate shocks, deliver relief and take into account climate risks while protecting civilians.

As we have heard, intercommunal and subnational violence continues to devastate communities, undermine livelihoods, and displace individuals from their homes. We are deeply concerned by continuing human rights violations and abuses, including sexual and gender-based violence, attacks on civilians and grave violations against children. We urge the South Sudanese government to ensure protection of civilians, especially women and children. Those responsible for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law must be held accountable.

We urge the Government to ensure the safety and security of aid workers, their facilities and eliminate bureaucratic impediments, making procedures clear, fast, and straightforward in order to facilitate the effective delivery of much needed humanitarian assistance to the people of South Sudan.

UNMISS has been critical to South Sudanese stabilization efforts, particularly in supporting the electoral process, fostering peace, and protecting civilians. We commend the mission’s technical assistance to the electoral bodies, its facilitation of dialogue among political factions, and engagement in community violence reduction. The mission’s commitment to reconciliation at local levels, human rights, rule of law, and humanitarian support reflects a comprehensive approach.

However, ongoing violations of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) continue to be concerning and hindering UNMISS’s ability to fully carry out its mandate. We call on the Transitional Government to address SOFA violations ensuring that UNMISS can operate without impediment and fulfill its mission.

Mr. President,

With only a few months remaining in South Sudan’s extended transitional period, it is crucial for leaders to finalize agreements that ensure a peaceful, inclusive and credible electoral process. Partners and friends of South Sudan, especially the UN, AU and IGAD, are urging for consensus on the way forward, clarity on the electoral roadmap and stressing the importance of national ownership and leadership.

We support these calls and we strongly encourage a renewed sense of urgency in addressing outstanding tasks and demonstrating a commitment to the timelines outlined in the roadmap.

Thank you.

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