Festus Mogae: “Crisis Within A Crisis” In South Sudan

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Festus Mogae: “Crisis Within A Crisis” In South Sudan
26 April 2017

PRESS RELEASE

26 April 2017, Juba, South Sudan

JMEC CHAIRMAN: “WE NOW FACE A CRISIS WITHIN A CRISIS.”


THE FULL TEXT OF THE CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS IS ATTACHED

JMEC Chairman, H.E. Festus Mogae, opened the April JMEC Plenary, in
Juba, with a warning that South Sudan now faces a crisis of hunger
that is undermining all efforts to make peace.

The Chairman said, “There can be no doubt that we now face a crisis
within a crisis. Security is the foundation stone upon which we build
economic and social confidence. This foundation stone no longer
exists, confidence has evaporated, commerce is seizing up, prices are
escalating and as a result we now face a crisis of hunger that is
undermining all our efforts to make peace.

“The mothers of South Sudan face a daily struggle with inflation,
never knowing if the money in their pocket will be sufficient to feed
their family. Insecurity creates food shortages, which in turn drives
inflation, that in turn results in hunger. A hungry man is an angry
man; and angry men do not make peace.

“Food shortages and increasing hunger are now our immediate problems.
Out in the country, beyond the reach of government, the situation is
increasingly desperate. Instability and hunger has created a surge of
survival-criminality that further exacerbates the problem through
stealing, looting and the prevention of free-flowing commerce.

On the issue of security, the Chairman said, “Violence and conflict on
this level is either centrally directed or locally orchestrated. I
fear it is now time to acknowledge that, across the board, among all
armed forces and armed groups, central structures of command and
control appear to have broken down. Violence around the country is
increasingly based on local decisions taken at local level. Armed
groups may declare an allegiance to one leader or another, but they
seem no longer to take their instructions from them.”

Every month the JMEC Chairman presents his report to the Board
members, including representatives of the Transitional Government of
National Unity, South Sudanese Stakeholders, IGAD member states, the
UN, the Troika (US, UK, Norway), China, EU and International Partners
Forum and Friends of South Sudan.

Reports are also received from the Transitional Government of National
Unity (TGoNU), Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements
Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM), Joint Military Ceasefire Commission
(JMCC), Joint Integrated Police (JIP), Strategic Defence and Security
Review Board (SDSRB) and the National Constitutional Amendment
Committee (NCAC).

The Chairman also commented on the humanitarian situation saying,
“Twelve aid workers have been killed in South Sudan so far this year.
It is simply deplorable that in 2017 we must still plead with a
government for the safety of those who deliver humanitarian relief.

“I can only repeat that this humanitarian situation is predominantly
man-made and the result of violence, conflict and the deliberate
denial of access. Men, women and children are suffering and dying of
starvation because the leadership at various levels is failing to
prevent it.”

THE FULL TEXT OF THE CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS IS ATTACHED

JMEC


Posted in: Foreign Relations, Press Releases