The United Nations’ top envoy in South Sudan offered a mixed picture of progress as that country tries to move toward peace after more than five years of civil war.
David Shearer told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council that overall levels of political-related violence are down, opposition politicians are moving around the capital freely, and for the first time in three years, displaced civilians are expressing a willingness to return home.
The U.N. envoy said the timetable set out in the September 12th, 2018, Revitalized Peace Agreement is well behind where it should be and fundamental issues still have to be resolved, such as providing security for returning opposition leaders, including Riek Machar, who is currently in neighboring Khartoum.
Time is running out for this phase of the peace process, which will end on May 12th, when the pre-transitional government is scheduled to take over and Machar is due to return to Juba to assume his role as first vice president.
