The 42nd Meeting of the 54th Regular Meeting: A Testimony Next Door, The South Remembers

As the months-long conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Speed Forces (RSF) enters a new military escalation, eerie testimonies are surfacing as the 54^th Regular Meeting continues. The Organization for Peace and Democratic Transformation (South Sudanese) started their addressing by reminding the President and the audience that “Technical assistance and capacity building for South Sudan require concerted efforts from everyone and support from neighbors,” however, their neighbor in the north, the Republic of Sudan, which a de facto government is ruling after a military coup led by the Sudanese Islamic Movement (SIM) –later saw its leader, Ali Karti, sanctioned by the U.S. for hindering democratic transition and averting reaching a cease-fire regarding the current conflict– has no intentions nor “wishes” enhance the capabilities of the South Sudan, the country the SIM during Omer Al-Bashir’ ousted regime exploited to the core and later embarked a Jihadi War against the South Sudanese people.

South Sudan has received thousands of Sudanese refugees fleeing conflict into the south, with more than 240,000 refugee returnees, according to the UNHCR’s overview. South Sudan remains the only country to all entry restriction-free to all the Sudanese people – neither visa nor even ID documents are required to enter the country, according to the PM, Deng Goc. However, the Organization spoke about the country’s national security being “undermined due to the refugee influx,” which, due to underfunding, has surpassed its capacity.

The Organization ended its speech to the President by calling for “collective support” toward curbing the growth of Islamic militias in the SAF and preventing the enforced enlisting of the South Sudanese young men and children in the ranks. The Organization also called for an end to the bombings on civilians, especially in Khartoum and West Darfur states.

Secondly, the addressing went toward the Vice President, affirming that the progress of South Sudan and Africa overall “hinges on the removal of the Islamic Extremists from the Sudanese Army.” The speech ended with a call for forming a federal civilian government that would eventually collaborate with its counterpart in the South.