The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Mr. Festus Gontebanye Mogae, former President of Botswana and Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC). They discussed the peace process in South Sudan.

The Secretary-General commended Mr. Mogae for his efforts and leadership at the helm of the JMEC, and reaffirmed the United Nations’ full support. He deplored the slow progress on the implementation of the Peace Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, notably the stalled formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity.

The Secretary-General and Mr. Mogae noted that it was high time for the Government of South Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition to place the interests of their people first and make the necessary compromises. They also discussed the need for the international and regional community to sustain pressure on the parties, including through punitive measures.