November 5, 2024
Mr. President,
First of all, I would like to thank the Under-Secretary-General, Mme Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, for her statement.
The Secretary-General’s report describes the major impact of the conflict in Sudan on the situation in Abiyé. This conflict is undermining the political process, exacerbating local inter-community conflicts, encouraging the proliferation of weapons and generating an flood of displaced persons.
In Sudan, the parties to the conflict must resume dialogue in order to conclude a ceasefire. A political process involving all parties and the whole of Sudanese civil society must be set in motion, to enable a return to lasting peace.
It is urgent that the parties to the conflict respect their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration and act to protect civilians. In this respect, I would like to recall the Declaration of Principles adopted at the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and the Neighbouring Countries on April 15, 2024, which calls on the parties to the conflict and all relevant actors to facilitate unhindered access to civilian populations in need of humanitarian aid. We welcome the fact that the UK Presidency has scheduled a meeting on the situation in Sudan during its presidency.
Mr President,
The economic and humanitarian situation in South Sudan is also difficult. It has been further exacerbated by the floods affecting the country.
France regrets the postponement of elections for two years. It remains mobilized in support of South Sudan and calls on all stakeholders, and in particular the South Sudanese authorities, to work through dialogue to hold peaceful, transparent and inclusive elections as soon as possible. This is the best way to preserve the main gains of the 2018 agreement, namely the end of the civil war and the return to peace.
Mr President,
In Abiyé, the action of UNIFIL is essential to protect civilians, to contribute to the resolution of local conflicts and to preserve the conditions for a settlement of the conflict, in a fragile regional context.
We call on the South Sudanese authorities to withdraw their forces deployed in Abiye in violation of the 2011 agreement, and to remove all obstacles to the work of the United Nations in the region, including impediments to the freedom of movement of its personnel.
We also call on the Sudanese and South Sudanese authorities to grant all necessary visas to UN personnel, and in particular to police officers mandated within the framework of UNIFSA and humanitarian personnel.
The action of the United Nations in Abiye, but also in South Sudan, is essential to the preservation of regional stability. It must continue, and we must focus our efforts on supporting the political progress that is essential to lasting improvement in the humanitarian and economic situation of the population.