UNITED NATIONS, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The UN mission chief in South Sudan on Thursday called on the transitional government to fully implement a revitalized peace accord in the face of dire challenges, a UN spokesman said.
Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said Nicholas Haysom, head of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, attended a meeting in Juba of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission.
Dujarric said Haysom seized the opportunity "to stress the urgent need for the transitional government to fully implement the Revitalized Peace Agreement in view of the dire economic and humanitarian situation in South Sudan."
The spokesman also said Haysom warned of anticipated flooding due to the rising waters of the Nile River.
"Haysom also emphasized the need to meet minimum political and technical preconditions required for a free, fair and credible electoral process, given the marginal progress we've seen in recent months," said Dujarric. "He reiterated the UN's full support for efforts to build the foundations of democracy, peace and stability through the peace agreement."
After a bloody civil war with Sudan, South Sudan was established as independent in 2011, only to erupt two years later in conflict between forces behind President Salva Kiir and those loyal to Vice President Riek Machar.
The young country has suffered the effects of climate change, economic decline, disease outbreaks, hunger and a refugee crisis. ■
