Rounding up a week-long trip to Sudan on 28 and 29 January, Under-Secretary-General Jean-Marie Guehenno visited Juba, where he met with Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) officials as well as UN staff, and attended a meeting of the Ceasefire Joint Military Committee (CJMC).

At a meeting with First Vice-President of Sudan and President of the GoSS Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir, Mr. Guehenno discussed key aspects of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), including the disputed status of Abyei, border demarcation, troop redeployment, the census and elections. The Under-Secretary-General stressed the UN's commitment and readiness to support implementation of the CPA.

Speaking at the CJMC meeting, Mr. Guehenno praised the body for the vital role it had played in bringing Sudan's former conflicting parties together. The CJMC had achieved great results, especially in implementing security arrangements, including redeployment of forces from contentious areas, the Under-Secretary-General said.

While in Juba, Mr. Guehenno also spoke on UNMIS' Radio Miraya. He stressed the importance of development and opening up southern roads by freeing them from landmines. "Opening up roads means that people can go to market, trade, sell their goods and bring in equipment needed to build schools and houses," he said.

On the disputed north-south border, Mr. Guehenno told Miraya listeners that he had agreed with GoSS President Kiir on the need to find a solution for Abyei, which lay in the contested boundary area and lacked a local administration. Abyei was a priority for UNMIS, he said, and the UN was looking at ways of increasing its reporting presence in the area.