Kiir meets newly-appointed UNMISS boss

JUBA – President Salva Kiir Mayardit has this afternoon met the newly-appointed Special Representation of the Secretary General of the United Nation and head of UN mission in South Sudan Nicolas Haysom and discussed the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

According to a statement by the presidency, the new UNMISS chief said he is aware of the progress being made in the implementation of South Sudan’s revitalized peace agreement and assured President Kiir of the UN’s support to the peace implementation.

“H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit, met with and welcomed the Special Representative of UN Secretary General and the Head of UNMISS Nicholas Haysom on Wednesday, 5 May 2021,” the presidency said in a statement seen by Sudans Post.

“SRSG Haysom acknowledged progress made on R-ARCSS implementation and assured President Salva Kiir the support of UN to South Sudan in promoting the implementation of the peace agreement,” it states.

It further added that “SRSG Haysom also congratulated President Salva Kiir for his efforts to support peace in the region and notably in Sudan.”

Haysom is a South-African lawyer and was appointed in January this year by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres to replace David Shearer of New Zealand who has been in the mission December 2016.

Between 2002 and 2005, the South African diplomat was the principal adviser to the Mediator in the Sudanese Peace Process that brought about the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

He was involved in the Burundi Peace Talks as Chair of the committee negotiating constitutional issues from 1999 to 2002 under the facilitation of late former President Nelson Mandela, and served in the Government of South Africa, including as Chief Legal and Constitutional Adviser in the Office of the President from 1994 to 1999.

He returned to Juba two weeks ago to assume his duties as the UNMISS head and SRSG.