PRESS RELEASE

(FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION)

20 November 2017, Juba, South Sudan

JMEC CHAIRMAN: “LET US HONOUR THE HEROIC MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FOUGHT AND DIED FOR THIS YOUNG NATION.” 

At the opening of the November JMEC Plenary in Juba, JMEC Chairman, H.E. Festus Mogae, recalled the sacrifice made by the people to create South Sudan and called for their heroic memory to be honoured.

The Chairman said, “Ten days ago, millions of people around the world stood in silence for two minutes in an annual act of remembrance of those who fought and died in the two world wars of the 20th century.

“The people of South Sudan will closely associate with the idea of fighting for freedom and commemorating those close relatives and friends of every community and every region who gave their lives for a better tomorrow. 

“The questions on the lips of every South Sudanese should be – how do we secure that ‘better tomorrow’ and deliver peace and prosperity for all? And how do we honour the sacrifice made by our brothers and sisters?

“Let us now honour all those South Sudanese men and women, who stood resolutely side by side for decades and fought and died for this young nation. It is in their name and heroic memory that we strive for peace and prosperity for all.”

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).

With regard to the proposed IGAD-led revitalisation process, the JMEC Chairman said, “There is a need for the region to approach revitalisation unified and with strength of purpose. Collectively, the IGAD Heads of State must prevail over the South Sudanese leadership to rethink the current trajectory of the country and take the necessary steps to restore peace and inclusive governance.

“As we await IGAD’s detailed plan for the High Level Revitalisation Forum, I call upon us all to remain focused on the desperate plight of the people of this country.

“For them, we must stop the fighting, end the violence, deal with criminality, prevent sexual and human rights abuses, ameliorate human suffering and address the economic crisis.”

ENDS