Honorable Ministers, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome and thank you for joining us this evening.
It has been an honor to represent my country in beautiful South Sudan. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with warmth and generosity. Thank you for that warm welcome and for your continued willingness to meet and discuss.
I have three points I want to share with you this evening.
First, - we want to see peaceful and credible elections in South Sudan.
We continue to urge the parties to the R-ARCSS, as well as the non-signatories to use the opportunity that the Tumaini Initiative represents to embrace peace. To all the parties involved, we say: negotiate in good faith. Compromise. There needs to be willingness to also give and not just take. The R-ARCSS interparty talks at leadership level in Juba must start.
And, let it be clear: We do not support actions that undercut the 2018 peace agreement. We do support actions that bring more parties inside the tent.
We want to see commitment to prepare for peaceful and credible elections. The ten questions presented by the African Union, IGAD and the UN in July 2023, must urgently be addressed. Among these are ensuring political and civil space, integration of armed forces and the funding and operationalization of the necessary election institutions.
I urge the transitional government of South Sudan to open political and civic space to cultivate the spirit of dialogue.
Second – we want to see public funds being used for public needs
Peace and economic stability are intimately entwined. If you lose one, you are likely to lose the other. We urge the transitional government to ensure Public Financial Management reforms are being prioritized.
Corruption perpetuates violence and instability. We continue to call for commitment to the values of public financial management principles by effectively using public revenue in a transparent and accountable manner to meet the needs of the people, by funding education and health services – and using increased public resources for humanitarian aid. As His Holiness Pope Francis recognized during his visit to South Sudan last year warning against using the abundant resources of the land for few, those resources, he said, should be “recognized as the legacy of all, and plans for economic recovery should coincide with proposals for an equitable distribution of wealth”.
Civil servants, including teachers, health workers, soldiers and police must be paid. This is a matter of utmost urgency and is closely linked to security. There is no time to lose.
The costs of delivering aid created by checkpoints and other illicit efforts to extract revenue from humanitarian aid operations are not acceptable.
Third – we want to see women free to participate in society on equal terms to men, and for the millions of South Sudanese girls and young women to thrive in a society that protects their rights.
We want to see the political will to expedite legislations to protect women and girls from gender-based violence and forced child marriages. It is imperative to urgently enact the Family Bill, Women’s Empowerment Bill and the Anti-GBV Bill. I encourage all of you here to be ambassadors for the women and girls of South Sudan. A prosperous and peaceful South Sudan depends on it.
I am grateful for the support and collaboration of so many of you here today. I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to my own team at the embassy for their hard work and dedication. Your professionalism and commitment have made a significant impact.
As I prepare to return to my home country, I carry with me fond memories but also a deep respect and admiration for all the people I have met dedicated to working for a better tomorrow for the people of South Sudan.
I want to extend my sincere thanks to all of you who have made my time here so rewarding. While this is a farewell, it is not goodbye. I look forward to staying in touch and to supporting our shared endeavors in whatever capacity I can.
Thank you once again for your friendship, your hospitality, and your partnership.