Communication Office

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Thursday, 2 June, 2022, Juba, South Sudan

AS THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD LAPSES IN FEBRUARY 2023, THERE IS GROWING PUBLIC ANXIETY, FRUSTRATION, DESPAIR 

There is growing public anxiety and despair ahead of the expiry of the Transitional Period which ends in February next year, without the completion of critical pending tasks of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

Speaking during the 22nd Plenary meeting of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) in Juba on 2 June 2022, RJMEC Interim Chairperson, Amb. Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai said:

“The R-ARCSS lays the foundation for a united, peaceful and prosperous society based on justice, equality, respect for human rights and the rule of law” with about eight months to the end of the Transitional Period Maj. Gen. Gituai added that “continuous delays in the implementation of the Agreement have consequential effects as witnessed in the recent incidents of military defections and the associated violent confrontations.”

In addition, the Interim Chairperson expressed “serious concerns” regarding continuous occupation of civilian centers by the SSPDF (South Sudan People’s Defence Force) and SPLA-IO and attacks by the SSPDF on the SPLA-IO forces in Upper Nile and Unity States.

Most disturbingly, he said, are reports of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Koch and Leer Counties in Unity State, including deaths of unspecified numbers of people, destruction of property and displacement of civilians. 

Among the key pending tasks related to the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements in Chapeter II are:

·      Completion of the unification of the command structure at all levels of rank and file; 

·      Graduation and redeployment of Phase I of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) and commencement of Phase II cantonment and training;

·      Operationalization and funding of the DDR (Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration) programmes as a critical component of unification of forces and long-term security; 

·      Logistics support for cantonment sites and training centres; and

·      Complete demilitarization of all civilian centres.  

In his address to the meeting, Maj. Gen. Gituai highlighted cross-cutting challenges which remain an obstacle to the implementation of the R-ARCSS. These include, he said, delayed Unification of Forces, lack of sufficient funding, military defections, trust deficit among parties, insufficient political will, capacity gaps and the cumulative effects of prolonged subnational conflicts across the country. 

Maj. Gen. Gituai further stressed on the importance of the Permanent Constitution making process and the need to carefully incoporate planning for the electoral process. He also reitarated the need for RTGoNU to urgently develop a roadmap on the way forward, in regard to implementing the remaining tasks, considering the limited time left before the expiry of the Transitional Period. 

ENDS

(For Immediate Publication)

Tuesday, 10 May, 2022, Juba, South Sudan

RJMEC CONVENES R-ARCSS SENSITISATION WORKSHOP FOR RECONSTITUTED TNLA, CALLS FOR FOCUS ON CONSTITUTIONAL MAKING, ELECTIONS PROCESSES

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 convened a sensitisation workshop on the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan  (R-ARCSS) for the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly (RTNLA) of the Republic of South Sudan. 

Speaking at the opening of the workshop in Juba, RJMEC Interim Chairperson, Ambassador Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai said: 

“At this critical time on the Agreement timelines, it is imperative for RTNLA to prioritize and focus on the legislative preparations for constitutional making and elections processes which are essential requirements of the Agreement, in order to transition the country to a democratic dispensation.”

In his remarks, Maj. Gen. Gituai asked the members “to ensure appropriate and timely legislation that will hasten the achievement of the election process within the timelines.”

“I wish to underscore to you as members of the RTNLA, the importance of a people-led and people-owned Permanent Constitution, which will be the cornerstone of the state of South Sudan, preparing the way for a smooth transition through free, fair and credible elections.” 

“As the legislative arm of Government, I take this opportunity to remind you of the critical role your institution plays in ensuring that the necessary legislation is enacted to enable this process to commence expeditiously,” he added.

Maj. Gen. Gituai noted, “Time is now of the essence. There is anxiety amongst the parties to the R-ARCSS and peace partners regarding how the outstanding tasks of the R-ARCSS shall be expeditiously implemented within the remaining period of the transition.”  

The Interim Chairperson called on the Parties to the R-ARCSS “to continue to build on the peace dividends made so far, adhere to their commitments to peace, take steps to restore broken relationships, build trust and confidence among yourselves, turn a new page; and inculcate the necessary political will which shall move the country forward towards enduring peace and stability.”

The workshop, bringing together the first batch of the 550 members of the RTNLA, is geared to familiarise the members on the content of the Revitalised Peace Agreement and also provide updates on the current status of its implementation.

“It is therefore important for you, as national leaders, to have a better and common understanding of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, get clarity on critical content-related questions and issues surrounding its implementation, and provide it with full support,” Maj. Gen. Gituai said. 

ENDS

Juba, 01 April 2022: A high-level joint delegation comprising of Special Representative of the Chairperson and Head of the AU Mission in South Sudan, H.E. Amb. Prof. Joram Biswaro, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan, Prof. Nicholas Haysom, Special Envoy of IGAD for South Sudan, H.E. Amb. Dr Ismail Wais, and Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) H.E. Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai (rtd), held two days of consultations with the Presidency of the Republic of South Sudan on recent matters of concern in the country.

 On Wednesday 30 March 2022, the delegation met H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and H.E. First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, and on Thursday 31 March 2022, met Excellencies Vice Presidents Mama Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, Dr. Wani Igga, and Gen. Taban Deng Gai.

The delegation encouraged the reaffirmation by both the President and the First Vice President that they would not return the country to war, urging them to de-escalate the heightened political tensions, dialogue amongst themselves to address any concerns, and return to full implementation of the Agreement. In the meeting with the President, the delegation acknowledged his intervention through the news conference of Monday 28 March 2022, which helped reduce the anxieties in Juba and across the country. 

The delegation underlined the importance for the members of the Presidency to recommit to the full implementation of the 2018 Peace Agreement, and urged them to fulfil their commitments in order to demonstrate to the nation their true desire for peace. It welcomed their preparedness and willingness to meet and discuss their differences in the implementation of the Agreement. The delegation encouraged them to uphold dialogue and improve the communication between and among members of the Presidency.

It encouraged the Sudan People’s Libration Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) to rescind its suspension of participation in the Agreement institutions and mechanisms, including RJMEC and CTSAMVM. Furthermore, it underscored the seriousness of the surge in intercommunal violence, which serves to undermine the security throughout the country. 

With only 11 months of the Transitional Period remaining, the delegation highlighted the pending tasks of the Agreement, such as the unification of forces, the constitution-making process and preparations for elections, and urged the transitional government to develop a roadmap to set out how to complete what needs to be implemented before the end of the Transitional Period. 

The meetings came at a time of increasing political and security concerns in the country, the suspension of participation of SPLM/A-IO representatives from the Agreement institutions and mechanisms, and the overall slow implementation of the R-ARCSS. The delegation expressed its availability to support the Presidency should the need arise.

 [ENDS]

Communication Office

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication

 Thursday, 31 March, 2022, Juba, South Sudan

RJMEC CONVENES COUNCIL OF STATES WORKSHOP, CALLS ON THE LEGISLATIVE BODY TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE R-ARCSS

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) on Thursday 31 March, 2022, convened a workshop for members of the Council of States of the Republic of South Sudan. 

In a statement delivered on his behalf by RJMEC Deputy Chief of Staff-Strategy, Dr. Thomson Fontaine during the official opening of the workshop in Juba, the RJMEC interim Chairperson Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai underscored to the Council members the importance of a people-led and people-owned Permanent Constitution, which he said will be the cornerstone of the state of South Sudan, paving the way for a smooth transition through free, fair and credible elections. 

“As the legislative arm of Government, I take this opportunity to remind you of the critical role you play in ensuring that the necessary legislation is enacted to enable this process to commence expeditiously,” he said.

As such, Maj. Gen. Gituai reminded the members of the Council that the implementation of the 2018 R-ARCSS “is now at a critical juncture” with less than a year to end of the Transitional Period.

“The slow progress in the implementation of the Agreement, compounded by the recurring challenges, is beginning to create anxiety amongst the Parties to the R-ARCSS, the region and international peace partners,” he said. 

 “One key question I have asked repeatedly relates to what strategy the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) has in place to complete implementation of the R-ARCSS within the remainder of the Transitional Period.”

Further, the Chairperson called on the Parties to the Agreement “to build on the peace dividends made so far, adhere to their commitments to peace, take steps to improve relationships and trust, and inculcate the necessary political will which will move the country forward towards enduring peace.”

While closing the Workshop, H.E Maj. Gen. Gituai noted that implementation of the R-ARCSS has faced various challenges, ranging from lack of sufficient resources, insufficient political will and lack commitment of some actors, trust deficit amongst the Parties and capacity gaps in some Agreement institutions and mechanisms, as well as growing subnational violence, activities of the holdout groups, military defections from one signatory party to another, impact of flooding and the COVID-19 global pandemic have also impacted the implementation of the of the Revitilised Peace Agreement, he said. The Interim Chairperson, tasked members of the Council to individually and collectively support the full implementation of the Agreement. 

The workshop, which targets the 100 members of the Council, will be followed by a series of workshops for the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), is aimed at enhancing common understanding of the content of the Revitalised Peace Agreement, its staus of implementation and how the two legislative bodiescan provide the necessary support for its progress. 

ENDS

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Wednesday, 23 March 2022, Juba, South Sudan

RJMEC CONCENRED WITH SPLM/A-IO SUSPENSION OF PARTICIPATION IN THE MEETINGS OF R-ARCSS SECURITY MECHANISMS

RJMEC notes with concern the suspension of participation of the SPLM/A-IO in the meetings of the security mechanisms of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), but is encouraged by its reiteration of its continuous commitment to full implementation of the R-ARCSS. The security mechanisms, which are composed of representatives from across the different Parties to the Agreement, are an integral component of implementing the Transitional Security Arrangements of the peace agreement.

RJMEC has stressed in many recent public statements, and in meetings and interventions at the highest political level in South Sudan and regionally, that right now is a critical time in the implementation of the Peace Agreement as we now have under 11 months of the Transitional Period left with much remaining to be done.

We take note of reports from CTSAMVM, the ceasefire monitors, which indicate a range of localised incidents of violence in different parts of the country which are a serious cause of concern for the overall implementation of the R-ARCSS.

RJMEC is also concerned  by recent reports of clashes taking place between SPLA-IO forces and defectors to the SSPDF in Upper Nile and Unity States, including in some training centres. Each training centre in South Sudan is a symbol of the unity which is being forged through creating a unified force, and any threat to this is unacceptable. 

CTSAMVM, which is composed of representatives from all the Parties to the Agreement, has been tasked to investigate these clashes and will report in due course. This state of affairs is exacerbated by the delayed implementation of the Transitional Security Arrangements as set out in the R-ARCSS, growing military defections from one signatory party to another, and poorly-resourced cantonment sites and training centres.  

Such divisive activity complicates the unification process, lowers morale, and breeds mistrust among troops who should be building togetherness. A unified force depends on cohesiveness for its ability to function for the greater good of the South Sudanese people. This insecurity also increases the number of displaced people, and strains the already scarce humanitarian support.

RJMEC urges the RTGoNU to expedite the completion of the Transitional Security Arrangements, and condemn military defections and accepting defections as being against the letter and spirit of the Agreement. Defectors must be held accountable for their actions following a transparent investigation. RJMEC further urges the RTGoNU to ensure the protection of civilians at all times.  

RJMEC reminds all Parties that full engagement and inclusive dialogue within the framework of the R-ARCSS is the only way of resolving disagreements. 

Communication Office

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Friday, 11 March 2022, Juba, South Sudan

RJMEC URGES RTGONU TO IMPLEMENT TRANSITIONAL SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS FULLY TO HELP RESOLUTION OF STATE AND COUNTY LEVEL VIOLENCE

RJMEC welcomes the appointment by H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, of a high-level committee, headed by Vice President H.E. Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, to investigate the clashes between communities in Twic County and the Ngok from Abyei. All measures to support the peaceful resolution of disputes is welcome, and should be replicated across those numerous areas of South Sudan which need it.   

Recent reports from CTSAMVM, the ceasefire monitors, indicate a range of localised incidents of violence in different parts of the country which are a serious cause of concern for the overall implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and enjoyment of its dividends at the community level. This overall picture of insecurity has a negative impact on the gains made so far in the implementation of the Peace Agreement at this critical time when every little bit of progress should be built upon. 

This state of affairs is exacerbated by the delayed implementation of the Transitional Security Arrangements as set out in the R-ARCSS, growing military defections from one signatory party to another, and poorly-resourced structures of governance at the State and local levels.  This localised violence not only complicates implementation of the Transitional Security Arrangements, but also increases the number of displaced people, strains the already scarce humanitarian support, and further impacts on humanitarian access.

On 22 February 2022, two Medecins Sans Frontieres vehicles were looted and burnt 8kms outside of Yei, Central Equatoria State. Fortunately, none of the staff were harmed during the incident. This attack on humanitarian aid workers and the delivery of humanitarian services deprives the civilian population of much-need care and assistance.  

These state and county level insecurities could be resolved more effectively if the Transitional Security Arrangements, already much delayed, were completed at this time of the Agreement period. Consequently, RJMEC urges the RTGoNU to complete the implementation of the Transitional Security Arrangements and joins other voices in urging the RTGoNU to conduct timely and transparent investigations of the perpetrators of violence at the communal level, engage local authorities in dialogue, utilise local peace building mechanisms and hold accountable those perpetrators found to be guilty.

As the RTGoNU develops its roadmap to the end of the Transitional Period, it should include a robust strategy for dealing with such growing localised conflicts in order to create a conducive environment for implementation of the critical pending tasks such as the making of the permanent constitution and the eventual conduct of elections at the end of the Transitional Period. 

ENDS