Following his assumption of duties as Acting Head of Mission/Force Commander (Ag. HoM/FC) of UNISFA, Major General Ganesh Shrestha undertook his inaugural official visit to Juba from 2 to 4 February, leading a UNISFA delegation for engagements with the Government of the Republic of South Sudan. The visit formed part of initial outreach efforts to reinforce cooperation and engage national counterparts on the implementation of the UNISFA and Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) mandates.
The visit commenced with an official reception at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, where Major General Shrestha met H.E. Ambassador Akuei Bona Malwal, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and reaffirmed the shared commitment to peace, security, and stability in the Abyei area. Major General Shrestha also met the leadership of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs (MoDVA), led by H.E. General Chol Thon Balok, and the Inspector General of Police, General Said Chawul Lom.
On the margins of the visit, the UNISFA delegation paid courtesy calls on the High-Level Committee for Dialogue, Expedition and Follow-Up on the Final Status of Abyei and the Abyei Joint Oversight Commission and held coordination discussions with UNMISS leadership on issues of mutual interest and inter-mission cooperation.
