25th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – Africa Perspective

In his remarks, Bol Gai Deng addressed the crisis in South Sudan following its independence in 2011, which was supported by the African Union, the international community, and the United States. He elucidated that after independence, President Salva Kiir failed to conduct the anticipated elections, leading to the outbreak of civil war in 2013, which resulted in an estimated 400,000 fatalities. Deng described the ongoing violence, mass displacement, and severe humanitarian crisis, with millions facing starvation and many seeking refuge in neighboring countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He also raised concerns about environmental degradation and oil pollution allegedly associated with foreign oil operations, which he asserted have exacerbated living conditions and public health.

Speaking on behalf of the South Sudan government-in-exile and youth movement, Deng advocated for democratic reforms, free and fair elections, and the establishment of a government accountable to the populace. He implored support from the African Union, the United Nations, and the United States to assist in restoring peace, stability, and constitutional governance in South Sudan. Concluding his appeal, he emphasized that instability in one nation poses a threat to global stability and called for international solidarity to aid the South Sudanese people in rebuilding their country.