Radio Miraya
2856: SRSG on 8th Governors Forum: The Forum Comes at a Critical Moment.
- With me here, I've got the SRSD Special Representative of the Secretary General for the United Nations here in Sarcidon, Alissa Nicholas Haison. He's right here in front of me, and he's going to share with us his thoughts about this, it's a governance forum. You're welcome to Radio Miraya. - Thank you very much. - Thank you very much. - Yes, firstly, tell us, are you impatient about this governance forum? We know very well that you have been attending such forums for the last couple of years. So tell us, how significant is this one? - Well, we've always highly regarded the governance forum. It is the highest form of the engagement between sub-national states and the state of Sarcidon. And as such, it's given a special opportunity to discuss issues of governance, particularly those issues that intersect between national and sub-national responsibility. As regards this particular governance forum, we would want to note that it's coming at a particularly important time, is some doubts and some uncertainties as to where the negotiating process is going, where the transition, how it is likely to unfold. And I think people will be really interested to hear what the governors have to say, as well as, and we should highlight this, there are a number of national politicians here as well. It's not simply governors that are here. So it does provide that space for an interaction between ministers and governors. - Yes, well, overall, the theme for this year's governance forum is centered on peace and also the transitional period, our axis. So tell us what's unmissed doing in order to support, especially when we talk specifically about the elections, preparations for elections. - We are thoroughly engaged in helping the Sarcidonies prepare for elections. We are working with civil society, we are working with the governors, we are working with political parties, we are working with the national institutions, we are helping stand up these institutions so that they can function, so that they can plan, and so that they can undertake their responsibilities. So our work has been really fully engaged in helping the Sarcidonies prepare for elections. You know, what academic research indicates is that elections after conflict have a propensity to relapse into conflict, unless they're properly prepared for their elections, and that will require, in this case, a really considerable degree of preparation to ensure that the people of South Sudan have access to opinions, have access to the machinery of the elections, that they do not feel excluded, that there are not allegations that the vote has been rigged. So it's gonna be very important that those who are in charge of the elections prepare it properly and thoroughly, and that people recognise how important, trust-building, and the political will to hold those elections on the best possible footing is, we're not expecting elections that might happen in some country which is wealthy and well endowed. We'll take note that this is a country with a real deficit on transport and logistics, but there are still legitimate expectations that ordinary people have that the election will be free, fair, and credible. Also, you know, a consistent making process is another also a very important pillar. How do you think and what should be done in order to make it inclusive enough and first as the citizens expected? - Yes, well, I think you've hit the nail on the head. I think for a constitution-making process to be authentic and successful, the people have to drive it. So they have to participate. To participate, they have to understand what's happening. They have to engage in the debate. So is this country gonna be federal? Is it not? How federal? How not? And this is, so it's particularly important that all citizens have an opportunity to participate. Now, the UN continues. This is what civil society and political parties have to do. And we are really gearing up to support these initiatives, not to lead them. This is not a UN election. It's a South Sudanese election. And so we want to make sure that as far as possible South Sudanese take ownership of the election, feel that it's their election and will earn the result. - Okay, these eight governors forum also coincides with their own going to many initiatives in Kenya. And what's your comment on what they refer to as delays by government side or delegation? That is still in Cuba. That actually should have been there a week now in Nairobi. How does that impact the peace process? - Well, you know, what I would want to stress is that the people have to have confidence in the process. To have confidence in the process, they need to know what's happening. Also in regard to the termimi initiative. Great to say I got back from the United States yesterday. I haven't really been briefed on what is happening. I know that a delegation is expected to go through to Nairobi this week or maybe next week. And I would be very interested to see which direction it takes. The ostensible purpose, which is of course to broaden the levels of inclusivity to include the whole groups, is of course an important one. But there has to be a understanding between all the parties as to what's involved in the initiative. - Yes, another also important thing is which the citizens are much concerned about is the non-implementation of the previous resolutions of the previous governor's forum, brother. And you've been witnessing all these, what can you say about that? - The governance forum, the observation is made. The resolutions from the last forum haven't been implemented. So we will be listening closely to see what reasons are given for the failure to implement those resolutions, and to see which ones are going to be put back on the drawing board and implemented. But as the country prepares for elections, we want to stress the important role that governors are going to have. They represent the interface between the elections and the people. And we've noted that some governors have gone so far as to make a commitment to the political and civic space necessary for elections. And we would want to encourage all governors to follow that example. Yes, and finally, how would you like to see the outcome of this forum? - Well, I think in the past, we have come to have high expectations of the level of debate and the range of issues which have been covered both from the national government and sub-national government. And really we've seen no reason to lower our expectations on this occasion. - Okay. - Thank you. What's the size? - Thank you very much.