During his visit to Juba, UN Secretary-General gave an exclusive interview to Miraya FM's Philip Yagoub and Susana Abuk in which he answered questions sent in by our listeners and website visitors. The following is the full text of the interview:

click here to listen to the interview 

Today, he is in South Sudan to follow up on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and he is here to answer some of Miraya FM listener's questions.

You are most welcome Mr. Secretary-General.

UNSG: Thank you very much, it's a great pleasure.

Susan Abuk: Mr. Secretary-General our first question, which comes from our listeners, will be about the implementation of the CPA.

The peace agreement has always supported the option of a united Sudan, stressing on the importance of making unity as an attractive option for the south. Juba resident, Oringa John, who has this question for you, Mr. Secretary-General, and he's saying: "We fought for our liberation and the freedom of our people in the south, but we are not seeing unity as an attractive option, and therefore we'll vote for separation. What would be the United Nations’ position if we'd come to separation between the north and the south, Mr. Secretary-General?"

UNSG: The UN is not here to impose its ideas on the people of southern Sudan. The UN supports the CPA signed between the north and south, which includes a referendum by which the people of the south will decide for unity or separation.

Philip Yagoub: Mr. Secretary-General in the same issue, on the implementation of the Abyei protocol, in July 2005 the international experts reached a decisive decision which was rejected by the Khartoum government although the decision was supposed to be final and binding. Chukwan Philip Ashwil wrote to Miraya FM's website the following question: "What would be the role of the UN in breaking the deadlock in the Abyei conflict, since the decision reached by the independent international experts has been rejected by one of the main signatories of the peace agreement and Abyei protocol?"

UNSG: You're right. The Abyei boundary commission's report was not accepted by the National Congress Party (NCP), although Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) maintained that its recommendations were final and binding.

We have urged the parties to resolve the Abyei issue as quickly as possible, as the people of the area are without administration or basic services, while this matter is undecided. I made this case clear in my report to the Security Council, and when I met President (Omar Hassan) Al-Bashir and the First President (Salva) Kiir, I made again this point clear.

This is obviously not good for the people of Abyei or for the health the CPA.

The UN has offered to provide meditation or any other technical assistance that may help the parties reach an agreement.

Susan Abuk: Another question from our listeners is about the Darfur peace agreement. Juma Chaplain, who is in Juba town, has this question to ask you Mr. Secretary-General: "The current African peacekeeping force in Darfur has totally failed in its mission, and now what is the UN's role in bringing a total change to Darfur in regards to the redeployment of non-African troops?"

UNSG: We are committed to working with the AU to stre

The due force, the UN-AU Mission in Sudan called UNAMID, will build on the AU Mission in Sudan that is already there. Rather than redeploying non-African troops, the UN department of peacekeeping operations is exerting all possible efforts to ensure that UNAMID will be predominantly African.

This is an agreement which I made with the chairman of the AU Mr. Konare and President Al-Bashir.

A number of pledges from African troops and police contributing countries have already been made.

However, UNAMID will also include sizable non-African elements especially in technical areas. We have received more commitments than actually needed, but still we are lacking contributions in technical areas, such as air services, transportation, and experts in financial and administrative matters.

Philip Yagoub: Also Mr. Secretary-General, on the Oslo conference, there is a question from an anonymous listener in Juba, asking: "A lot of money pledged in Oslo has been channeled to Darfur; does that mean the promises made to south Sudan by the international community have been dismissed to save the Darfurians?"

UNSG: No money pledged for the development of southern Sudan is going to Darfur. UNMIS is a billion dollar peacekeeping operation, designed solely to support the parties in implementing the CPA.

It doesn't make headlines, but its people and all the UN agencies are here in Sudan everyday monitoring the ceasefire, training the police and supporting post-conflict activities, like the return of the displaced, local reconciliation, and clearing landmines, so that people can travel and go home in safety.

Susan Abuk: Mr. Secretary-General, lastly, how do you feel being on your first visit to south Sudan?

UNSG: I am very pleased to visit southern Sudan in all stages of my tenure. Particularly, I was overwhelmed by the wholehearted, warm welcome by the citizens of southern Sudan, particularly the young children, boys and girls, men and women, old and young, they all came to the streets welcoming me.

I was overwhelmed by such warm welcome that makes my resolve further strengthened to work for the peace and security and development of southern Sudan.

I am here to lay the peace foundation and I am here to listen to the leaders of southern Sudan, and to see, myself, the challenges and problems of southern Sudan in securing peace and development and promoting all this development agendas. 

I had a very good meeting with the First Vice-President Salva Kiir and I hope that in closely coordinating and consulting between south and north Sudan, this Comprehensive Peace Agreement will be implemented as soon as possible.

I am working very hard to expedite this peace, political negotiations, with the aim of holding these during the month of October.

I am now discussing this matter with the Sudanese government, and leaders of regional powers, to set the date and the venue, so that these political negotiations can start as soon as possible. 

I urge all the representatives of the movements and regional players to participate in this. At the same time, I am also stepping up my efforts towards the deployment of the hybrid UN-AU (UNAMID) mission, so that we will be able to restore peace in Darfur.

Philip Yagoub: The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, thank you for joining us.

UNSG: Thank you very much.

It has been a great pleasure. Thank you.