Day: May 9, 2021

May 8, 2021(WASHINGTON) – The United States Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Ambassador Donald Booth is scheduled to visit South Sudan from May 9-13, 2021.

A statement from the U.S. State Department said Booth will hold meetings with government officials, political stakeholders, and civil society as well as international partners during his visit.

“The Special Envoy’s travel underscores the United States’ commitment to work with IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] and other regional and international partners to support peace and stability in South Sudan,” partly reads the May 8 statement.

According to statement, of particular concern to the US is the slow implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), ongoing violence, and the deteriorating economic and humanitarian conditions.

The envoy’s visit comes days after diplomats from the Troika member countries penned a letter calling for the urgent implementation of the Transitional Security Arrangements which include; agreement on Necessary Unified Force, improvement of conditions in training centers, and the graduation and deployment of the unified force.

The letter from the Troika, of which the US is a member, was addressed to South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, First Vice President Riek Machar and the country’s four Vice Presidents.

Booth was appointed U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan on August 28, 2013. Prior to this appointment, he served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

A member of the Senior Foreign Service, the U.S diplomat previously served as Ambassador to the Republic of Zambia from 2008-2010 and Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia from 2005-2008.

 

Source: Sudan Tribune

May 8, 2021 (HARARE) – A total of 17 Zimbabwean Police officers will soon be deployed for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

10 of the 17 officers heading to the world’s youngest nation are female.

According to The Herald, the Commissioner of the Zimbabwean Police, Godwin Matanga urged the officers leaving for the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan to prioritise their duty of fostering and sustaining peace.

“Just like what I have always done, let me also say to the departing contingent, as you partake of the demanding task ahead, always be mindful that the main reason we are sending you to lands far away from your homes and families is to foster and sustain peace,” explained Matanga.

He added, “Always take pride in the knowledge that your selfless contribution to peace will find its place not only in world history, but also in the hearts of generations to come.

Matanga reminded the officers that discipline should always come first.

“I call upon each and every one of you to shun all forms of behaviour that might bring the ZRP and our country into disrepute,” said the officer.

“You should always remember the fact that discipline should manifest within the contingent itself first before we talk of the deserved respect for police colleagues of other nationalities,” he stressed.

According to the official, the deployment comes at an unusual time where the Covid-19 pandemic has altered everyone’s traditional way of life.

“In this regard, let me say to you that we are all duty bound to continuously conform to the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for travel and gathering, among others,” he said.

 

Source: Sudan Tribune