🇸🇸Cecilia Adout Majok AdengSouth Sudan · UNGA 81 speech

Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I bring you warm greetings and best wishes from His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan. And I bring you greetings from the government and the people of South Sudan, together with a message of peace, unity, development, and unwavering commitment to international cooperation. I wish to congratulate Mr. President on your election to preside over the 81st session of this General Assembly. I also express South Sudan's appreciation to the Secretary-General. His Excellency Antonio Guterres has continued his service until the last speech he delivered here early last week. His commitment to the principle of the United Nations Charter stands with us. Mr. President, the theme of this session, Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation, a United Nation that delivers for all, speaks directly to the experience and the aspiration of the people of South Sudan. As the world's youngest nation and the 193rd member of the United Nations, South Sudan understands both the promises and the possibilities of multilateralism. South Sudan also understand that trust is fundamental to peace. trust among citizens, trust between citizens and their institutions, trust among nations, and trust between member states and the international institutions created to serve them. South Sudan remains committed to the United Nations and the purpose and the principle of its charter. We recognize and appreciate the contribution the United Nations has made to South Sudan, from humanitarian assistance and protection of civilians to peacebuilding, development, and institutional support. However, restoring trust also requires honest reflection. Our experience has shown that international institutions can sometimes be slow to adjust to changing circumstances on the ground. Approaches designed to respond to conflict must be capable of evolving as nations move towards peace, recovery, institution building, and ownership. For South Sudan, therefore, restoring trust must mean strengthening partnership between the United Nations and member states, respecting national ownership, recognizing progress while acknowledging remaining challenges, and ensuring that international engagements ultimately strengthen the capacity of the nations to assume the responsibility of their own future. Mr. President, to understand where South Sudan seeks to go, one must understand where South Sudan has came from. The history of South Sudan did not begin with the independence of the 9th of July, 2011. It was shaped by more than half of a century of struggle, sacrifices, displacement, and unwavering desire for freedom and self-determination. Our late Dr. John Garang de Mabior summarized those aspirations of the struggle that when he spoke freedom, liberty, equality, justice, human rights, and democracy. Those aspirations did not end with the independence. They remain part of the ongoing work of nation building. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 provided the political framework that transformed struggles, decades of struggles, into a peaceful exercise of self-determination. South Sudan, therefore, continues to recognize the indispensable contribution of IGAD and our African Union brothers and sisters. as well as the support of the troika, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway, and the wider international community. South Sudan also remembers the extraordinary contribution of the churches and faith-based leaders. During some of the darkest years of the conflict, churches remained with the people of South Sudan. They educated children. They assisted displaced communities, they mediated disputes, and kept alive the belief that reconciliation was possible. That tradition continued with the historical and medical pilgrimage of peace to South Sudan by His Holiness Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the moderator of the Church of Scotland. Their message reinforced something that South Sudan has learned through painful experience. The message reinforced something that peace requires political agreement. But lasting peace also requires reconciliation, forgiveness, and courage. Mr. President, His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit belongs to the generation that carried the struggle of liberation. Following the passing of Dr. John Garang Dima Bure, President Kiir assumed the responsibility of safeguarding the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. and leading the people of South Sudan towards the referendum on self-determination. On January 2011, the people of South Sudan overwhelmingly spoke through the ballot. And on the 9th of July 2011, President Kiir stood before the people as the flag of the Republic of South Sudan was raised for the first time. 15 years later, South Sudan has traveled a difficult road. There have been achievements. There also have been setbacks. South Sudan experienced internal conflict shortly after independence. Implementation of the revitalized peace agreement has taken longer than originally intended or anticipated. Economic and humanitarian challenges remain significant. The government does not deny these realities, but neither should these challenges be allowed to erase the progress made or define permanently the identity of the Republic of South Sudan. Throughout the transition period, President Kiir has repeatedly made one commitment clear. He will not take South Sudan back to war. This commitment has guided his approach to peace process and remain fundamental to his vision for the next chapter of South Sudan. The mission before President Kiir is therefore different from the mission of the liberation years. The liberation struggle sought to give the people of South Sudan the right to determine their destiny. The responsibility today is to consolidate peace, strengthen institution, and create conditions through which the people of South Sudan can once again determine their political future through democratic means. Mr. President, when the people of South Sudan voted for the independence, they were voting for more than creation of a new state. They were voting for a dream. They dreamt of a peace after generations of war. They dreamt of schools for their children. health care for their families, roads connecting their communities, food security and economic opportunities, justice and equality, strong institutions, and a government whose authority ultimately drives from the will of its people. The difficulties of the last 15 years have been not extinguished, not to extinguish those dreams. They remain alive among the people of South Sudan. And it's precisely for this reason that His Excellency President Salva remains committed to paving the way towards general elections scheduled for December 2026. These elections are intended to mark the conclusion of the transition period and provide the people of South Sudan the opportunity to choose democratically their own leaders. We recognize the important work ahead. Electoral institutions require adequate resources, political dialogue must continue, security arrangements must advance, civic and voter education must reach communities. Women and young people must participate meaningfully. Refugees and internally displaced persons must not be left out. And an environment must be created to which political competition can occur peacefully. The government remains committed to working towards these objectives. For far too long, South Sudan has often been seen internationally through the lens of conflict, humanitarian needs, and political crisis. President Kiir's vision is to create the condition in which the world can once again see the people of South Sudan for who they truly are, a resilient people who struggled for freedom, voted peacefully for independence, continue to aspire for peace, dignity, democracy, and prosperity. The people of South Sudan must increasingly speak for themselves, and they must speak through the ballot. Our journey, therefore, continues from liberation struggle to comprehensive peace agreement to the referendum to independence, from conflict to peace, and now from transition towards democratic governance. Mr. President, the message of President Kiir remains clear-- South Sudan must not return to war. Political disagreement must not be addressed. Political disagreement must be addressed through dialogue. Political competition must never again become armed confrontation. The ballot must replace the bullets. South Sudan recognizes that conducting peaceful elections requires security and strong institutions. The government bears the primary responsibility for protecting its citizens. maintaining public order, and safeguarding the electoral process. South Sudan, therefore, continues to call for constructive engagements with the Security Council concerning restrictive measures, including the arms embargo. South Sudan's objective is not militarization. The objective is to develop professional, unified, disciplined, and accountable security forces operating under the civilian authority and the rule of law. South Sudan believes that accountability and national capacity should reinforce themselves. We therefore call for the lifting of all the restrictive measures, sanctions, and sanctions must be instruments for achieving clear defined objectives. They should not become permanent substitute for political engagements and institution buildings. Mr. President, South Sudan remains grateful for the contribution of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. We recognize the men and women who serve under the United Nations flag, particularly those who have lost their lives in the service of peace. As South Sudan advances its transition, international engagement must also evolve. President Kiir's vision is not for South Sudan to remain indefinitely dependent upon international peacekeeping. The objective must be a South Sudan capable of sustaining its own peacekeeping. South Sudan, therefore, calls for a greater emphasis on peacebuilding, institutional development, continuous capacity building, and we are also keen to establishing partnership. Invest in South Sudan police and judiciary. Invest in public administration. Invest in education and healthcare. Invest in infrastructure. Invest in women and young people. Invest in institutions that will sustain peace long after peacekeepers have departed. The ultimate measures of a successful peacekeeping should be the establishment of condition under which peacekeeping is no longer required. South Sudan, therefore, seeks a responsible transition from managing crisis towards building a lasting national capacity. Mr. President, peace cannot be sustained without development. At independence, South Sudan inherited extremely limited infrastructure and institutional capacity. Nation building, state building, and service delivery have, therefore, have to proceed simultaneously. President Kiir has placed particular emphasis on agriculture, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic diversification. South Sudan possesses millions of hectares of arable land, significant water resources, livestock, fishery, natural resources, and one of the youngest population in the world. South Sudan, therefore, seeks to transition progressively from humanitarian dependency to self reliance, and towards a sustainable development and investment. For a farmer, a road to a market is development. For a child, a functioning school is development. For a mother, access to health care is development. For a young person, employment is development. And for South Sudan, development is one of the strongest foundation for lasting peace. We therefore invite international partners and responsible investors to look beyond South Sudan's current challenges and recognize its potential. Do not ask only what South Sudan needs, ask what South Sudan can offer. Mr. President, South Sudan continues to face severe consequences from climate shocks, despite contributing minimally to global emission. Recurrent floods, droughts, displacement, and food insecurity are affecting millions of South Sudanese. South Sudan, therefore, reiterates its call for predictable and accessible climate financing, investment in adaptation, resilient infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture, and technology transfer. Climate justice must reflect not only in commitments, but in the implementation. Mr. President, South Sudan and young people, women and young people of South Sudan are essential to President Kiir's vision. The revitalized peace agreement provided 35% representation for women in public institutions. South Sudan continues on working to translate those commitment into meaningful participation at all levels. South Sudan also is an overwhelmingly young population. These young people should not inherit a conflict of previous generation. They should inherit opportunities of peace, education, vocational training, technology, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and sports. That is the future they deserve. Mr. President, decades of conflict scattered South Sudanese across the world. But South Sudanese diaspora should not be viewed only through the history of displacement. It is also an extraordinary national resources. Our national basketball team, the Bright Star, demonstrated this before the world. South Sudanese whose journey had taken them across different countries and continents came together under one flag. Under the leadership of Luol Deng and the South Sudan Basketball Federation, South Sudan qualified for the Basketball World Cup and subsequently the Olympic Games. They showed the world the image of South Sudan, not conflict, not displacement, but talent, discipline, unity, and excellence. This experience offers a model for national development. South Sudan doctors abroad can contribute to health care. Engineers can contribute to infrastructure. Academians can strengthen education. Entrepreneurs can invest and create employment. Technology professionals can conduct, can connect South Sudan to digital economy. And successful South Sudanese around the world can mentor the next generation. To the international community. We need to create a stronger partnership that would enable South Sudan diaspora to transfer their skills and professional experience in order to contribute to the ongoing development in the Republic of South Sudan. To the South Sudanese diaspora, our message is simple. South Sudan needs you. Bring your knowledge home, bring your experience home, bring your investment home, and bring your networks home. Where physical return is not possible, allow your skills and experience to contribute to South Sudan. The same experience, the same spirits that brought South Sudanese athletes from around the world together under one flag can help bring South Sudanese expertise together for one national purpose. South Sudan's greatest resources is ultimately its people, both at home and abroad. Mr. President, South Sudan stand in solidarity with the people of Sudan. South Sudan and Sudan share history, families, economic interests, and one of the longest border in the region. South Sudan, therefore, reiterates its ongoing and continued full support for a lasting peace in the Sudan. South Sudan knows from the experience that military confrontation ultimately requires a political solution. Even the longest conflict must eventually reach a negotiated settlement. South Sudan therefore supports regional and international efforts aimed at achieving peace in Sudan. Outstanding matters arising from the comprehensive peace agreement, including the border issues and the final status of Abyei, also requires a peaceful engagement between South Sudan and Sudan. Mr. President, restoring trust also requires reform of institutions of global governance. The composition of the Security Council does not equitably reflect the realities of today. Africa, with 54 member states, remains without a permanent representation on the Council. South Sudan, therefore, reaffirms its support for the common African position. Africa must be appropriately represented in both permanent and non-permanent categories. Similarly, Developing countries must have a stronger voice in international financial institutions and decisions concerning development, financing, debt, climate, and technology. Reforms do not weaken multilateralism. Reforms strengthen its legitimacy. Mr. President, 15 years after the independence, South Sudan remains a young nation undertaking the difficult work of building a state while consolidating peace and delivering development. The journey has not been easy, but the liberation generation fought for freedom. The generation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement secured the pathway to self-determination. The people of South Sudan chose independence through the ballots. and His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit carried the responsibility of leading South Sudan through referendum and into statehood. Today, President Kiir's vision is directed towards another historical responsibility, to preserve peace, strengthen national institutions, pave the way towards elections through which the people of South Sudan can determine the next chapter of their nation. This ultimately about completing the promise of independence. A South Sudan at peace with itself, a South Sudan governed through strong institutions, a South Sudan where political competition does not lead to war, a South Sudan where women participate fully and where young people have opportunities. where refugees can return home, where the diaspora can contribute to national development, and where children grow up knowing South Sudan not through the memoirs of war, but through the possibilities of peace. Dr. John Garang once challenged the people of South Sudan to unite and dream together. That dream did not end with independence. It continues today. And today, the responsibility of President Kiir is, and his government, is the political leadership, is indeed, is that people of South Sudan must dream and must have a functioning, peaceful, and a prosperous South Sudan. To our international partners who stood with us during our liberation struggle, and during the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and during the referendum, and at independence, We say, stand with South Sudan again. But let this chapter be a partnership that strengthen national ownership, a partnership that build institutions, a partnership that recognizes progress while helping address remaining challenges, a partnership that enables South Sudan progressively to stand on its own. Mr. President, for South Sudan, restoring trust means delivering on the promises of peace. Managing transformation means moving from conflict to institutions, from dependency to national capacity, and from transition towards democratic governance. And a United Nations that deliver for all means ultimately help nations develop the capacity to deliver for their own people. South Sudan remains committed to the United Nations. South Sudan remain committed to Africa. And South Sudan remained committed to peace. And under the leadership of His Excellency, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, South Sudan remains committed to the long journey of transforming the sacrifices of liberation into peace, dignity, development, democratic future for which the people of South Sudan have waited for generations. That is the promise of independence. That is the responsibility of this generation, and that is the future South Sudan seek to build. May the Lord Almighty bless the people of South Sudan, and may the Lord Almighty bless all the nation represented in this Assembly. I thank you for your kind attention.