President Salva Kiir of South Sudan addresses the General Assembly. UN Photo/Cia Pak

President Salva Kiir has called on the United Nations to lift the arms embargo imposed on South Sudan to aid peace implementation and to secure the 2024 elections.

Kiir made the appeal while addressing the United Nations’ 78th General Assembly in New York on Thursday.

The South Sudan’s head of state has acknowledged the political, humanitarian, and security challenges the country has faced since 2013.

However, he said they [parties] turned the corner with the signing of a revitalized peace agreement in 2018

According to him, the unity government is determined to build on our commitment to our revised national development strategy for 2021-2024 to consolidate peace and stabilize the economy.

“The ongoing financial management reforms and the recently concluded national economic conference are formed on a solid basis for sound management of public resources for the benefit of our citizens.

However, Kiir said, “What remains now is to fast-track the implementation of the remaining provisions of the agreement in order to conclude the transitional period peacefully through fair, transparent, and credible elections in 2024.”

According to him, “the government has managed to engage in dialogue and consultations with the various stakeholders including the civil society, women youth traditional leaders, and opposition groups to ensure the peace process is owned and driven by our own people.”

Going forward, he said, “We call upon the United Nations to lift the arms embargo imposed on us to aid peace implementation and to secure the elections.”

“The arms embargo has impeded the implementation of the security arrangement because the effective deployment of the unified forces which we have graduated cannot happen without arms.”

Regarding the conflict in Sudan, Kiir said South Sudan is faced with an influx of Sudanese refugees worsening the already dire humanitarian situation in the country.

“As the country shares a border with the Republic of Sudan, South Sudan has received thousands of Sudanese refugees and returnees since the conflict broke out in April 2023.

This influx has overwhelmed our communities and created a humanitarian crisis.

Mr. Kiir appealed to the humanitarian community to avail resources to help the refugees and the host communities

“We call for the provision of sustained support to these persons as we work to restore peace and stability in Sudan.”