Bahrain delivers statement at UN Security Council Briefing on South Sudan
New York, Feb. 11 (BNA): Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations, delivered the statement of the Kingdom of Bahrain during the United Nations Security Council briefing on the situation in the Republic of South Sudan.
The Security Council heard briefings from Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations; Ambassador (Ret.) Maj. Gen. George Aggrey Owinow, Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission; and Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO).
The statement expressed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s appreciation for the role undertaken by regional mechanisms in supporting South Sudan’s national peace process and institutional-building efforts, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), the African Union particularly its High-Level Ministerial Committee on South Sudan and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission.
The statement emphasised the need for an immediate cessation of violence, the resumption of dialogue and the protection of civilians, and called for strengthened local, regional and international cooperation to advance peace, security and stability in South Sudan and the wider region.
It conveyed the international community’s concern regarding the deterioration of the security, political and humanitarian situation, particularly in the Equatoria, Unity and Jonglei states, citing continued violence, repeated violations and recent attacks targeting humanitarian convoys and health and relief facilities. The statement noted that the spillover effects of regional tensions pose direct risks to civilians and humanitarian workers and undermine the capacity of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to fulfil its mandate, amid restrictions on its movement and the financial and operational challenges it faces.
The statement urged all parties to adhere to the Revitalised Peace Agreement of 2018 and underscored the importance of genuine political will to engage in an inclusive and constructive national dialogue aimed at promoting reconciliation, building trust and consolidating consensus. It stressed the need to complete the remaining tasks of the transitional political period as stipulated in the Agreement, in order to preserve the gains achieved and prepare for comprehensive and credible elections in 2026 that meet the aspirations of the people of South Sudan, while safeguarding the country’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The statement further expressed deep concern over recent reports by the United Nations Secretary-General and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs indicating that nearly 10 million people approximately two-thirds of the population require humanitarian assistance, including more than 600,000 refugees, in addition to continued displacement resulting from escalating violence and competition over limited resources.
The statement called for intensified and coordinated efforts to ensure the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance in response to growing needs, and urged the relevant national authorities, in coordination with regional and international partners, to adopt comprehensive measures to address the root causes of youth militarisation and involvement in armed clashes. This includes strengthening capacity-building initiatives, enhancing social integration opportunities and ensuring the effective participation of youth in peace processes.
