President Salva Kiir has assured the citizens of South Sudan that the country will not slip into another political turmoil as Africa’s youngest nation enters a new decade.

In his independence address to the nation Friday last week, Kiir said it was time for the country to work and recover the lost decade.

“I assure you that I will not return you back to war again,” Kiir said. “Let us all work together to recover the lost decade and put our country back on the path of development in this new decade.”

The president also said economic reform and security revamp were among the top priorities of the government of the day.

“The priority of the revitalised government is the full implementation of the agreement by focusing on security sector and economic reform. These two priority areas will stabilise our country and ensure economic growth through increase of production, leading to social-economic development,” Kiir said.

South Sudan has been going through a dire economic situation with the majority of the citizens facing one of the worst hunger crises following the country’s civil war in 2013.

Over 4 million were displaced just after two years of independence, resulting in many hope for a better future.

The government and opposition reached the September 2018 peace agreement yet to be fully implemented as key provisions remained outstanding to date.

Scorecard

However, the president said that parties to the revitalised agreement have made progress in the implementation to prevent the country from getting into the war.

“What has been achieved so far in peace implementation was arrived at through sustained discussions and this in itself a great achievement because it puts us on the path of resolving our dispute peacefully and in the process prevents conflict that can again setback our progress.

“This commitment has been demonstrated by the efforts we have exerted, one-  finalize the formation of national and state government- two – reconstituted the RTNLA and Council of State,” said Kiir.

To ensure the full implementation of the agreement, the president directed the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to expedite the process of the permanent constitution-making process for the transformation of the country to a democratic state. 

He further said efforts were underway to ensure inclusivity by bringing in all the holdout groups of Gen. Thomas Cirilo, Paul Malong and Pagan Amun under the auspices of Sant’Egideo.

“On economic reform, the government is implementing series of measures designed to strengthened and reform the ministry of finalising and planning as well as the Bank of South Sudan.

 “The government is committed to fixing debt sustainability to improve the living standard of our people,” said the president.

He said the country will soon operationalize the oil refinery that will be exported to neighbouring countries to strengthen South Sudan’s economy. 

“This (oil refinery) and other economic measures are promising and we should look up to a major improvement in the economy of our country,” he said.

Kiir also said his government would soon graduate the necessary unified forces to usher in security to the citizens, blaming the international community over the delay in security implementation.

“The forces are now ready for graduation despite the many challenges including our inability to provide them with necessary weapons because of arms embargo unfairly imposed on us, we are committed to graduate them (forces) as a matter of critical responsibility under the peace agreement,” said the President.

But, Kiir pointed out the importance of reaching a peace agreement with the holdout groups and disarming of the civil population as a critical matter to achieving last peace and ending violence which he said were making the journey of peace too long to go.

 “I am keenly aware that we still have a lot to achieve total security in our country. We still have incidences on insecurity where National Salvation front operates and arms in the hands of the civilians,”

“Already, we are engaging the holdout groups of South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA) through Sant’Egido in Rome mediation process and we are committed to reaching an agreement with our brothers and sisters in order to achieve peace in our country,” further said Kiir

He further called on all citizens to renounce violence and support the government’s efforts in pursuing peace in South Sudan.

“Intercommoned violence as well as worrying occurrences of armed youths against NGOs, these are matters which undermine peace in our country and we all need to work together to find a permanent solution to these matters.”

Appeal for the youth

Regarding unemployment that has affected thousands of young people in the country and latest instigated young people in some parts of the country against humanitarian agencies, the President called immediate end as the government works out modalities to address unemployment matter.

“I urge you not to undermine our nationalism by focusing on ethnic and regionalism. Demanding for equitable employment should not set us against one another nor would it put us into a confrontation with our partners in the NGOs,” said Kiir.

“The national government has heard your concern and resolved to form a high-level committee under the First Vice President and deputized by one of the Vice Presidents and other relevant ministers to study and develop a roadmap to permanently resolve the matter.”

“I therefore, call upon you to exercise calm and restrain in the interest of peace and stability in South Sudan,” he urged the youth.