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Expert urges S. Sudan to improve economy for peace to prevail

Xinhua, September 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Sudan cannot proceed ahead with peace and reconciliation without improved living conditions despite attempts for creation of the Commission on Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH), according to a UN expert.

The Country Director of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Jean Luc Stalon said here on Thursday that peace cannot be achieved without improving human security and living conditions of the vast majority of the population displaced by the more than two years conflict in oil-rich youngest nation.

"I want to say that all these issues I have said cannot be done in isolation. When I am saying you address truth, reconciliation and healing you cannot heal an empty stomach. If somebody has no income, job, not in good health and suffering you cannot talk to him on truth and healing," Stalon told journalists.

He said security sector reform was needed to enhance human security in the country.

"We need to take care of security sector reform in a manner that will enhance human security. We need to address the issue of small arms they cannot be everywhere because they undermine security," he revealed.

Stalon disclosed that they have made progress toward creating conducive environment for justice and reconciliation in the country by moving toward establishment of the CTRH.

However, he decried the weakness in the country's justice system which he said was failing to clear the backlog of cases hence delaying justice.

"Access to justice is a big issue, and the number of judges is very limited compared to the number of the population that needs to access justice causing case backlog," he noted.

The peace agreement signed in August 2015 calls for formation of the CTRH to help end the more than two years of conflict.

South Sudan descended into deadly conflict in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup, which the latter denied, leading to killing of tens of thousands and displacing more than 2 million from their homes.

A fragile peace deal signed between the warring parties in August 2015 brokered by the regional body Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) remains in disarray after Machar abandoned Juba for his safety. Endit