STATEMENT BY H.E. AMB. LT. GEN. AUGOSTINO S.K. NJOROGE,

INTERIM CHAIRPERSON, RJMEC,

TO THE 12th RJMEC MONTHLY MEETING.

TUESDAY, 17THDECEMBER 2019

JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN

 HonourableMinisters, 

Excellencies, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning.

1.   I welcome all of you to the 12th RJMEC meeting. As you are all aware, there has been a change in the Chairmanship of IGAD, and I would like to take this early opportunity to congratulate the Republic of Sudan on the assumption of the Chairmanship. I wish the people and the government every success in the discharge of this responsibility. I would also like to join the IGAD Heads of State and Government in appreciating and thanking the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for the pivotal role it played in steering and spearheading the work of IGAD as the Chair for over a decade. 

2.   I also congratulate H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu on his appointment as the new Executive Secretary of IGAD, and sincerely thank H.E. Ambassador Mahboub Maalim, the former Executive Secretary of IGAD, for his services to the region.

3.   Now to the business at hand. It is only three weeks ago since we last met, but such is the importance of this current period in the implementation of the R-ARCSS that it is imperative for us to meet and take stock sooner rather than later. This is also the last time we will meet before the mid-term review, a point that represents the half-way mark of the 100 days extension period that began on 12thNovember 2019. This is going to be our last meeting of the year 2019. It is deeply regrettable that implementation of the activities of the Pre-Transitional period have failed to live up to expectation.

4.   My statement will highlight the situation regarding implementation since our last monthly meeting. I will then conclude with my recommendations on the way forward.  

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

5.   As I made it clear in my previous public statements, including to this meeting, to the IGAD Council of Ministers and to the African Union Peace and Security Council, that there are two key pending issues critical to the successful implementation of the Pre-Transitional activities and the establishment of the RTGoNU on a solid foundation. These are the unification of necessary forces and the resolution of the number of States and their boundaries. I continue to say that their timely implementation requires political will, leadership and predictable release of the necessary funding.

6.   Firstly, on funding; I am informed that the mechanisms received some funds on Friday 13thDecember, and this is welcome. I request the NPTC to explain the criteria of the allocations to the mechanisms. I note, however, that as a consequence of this late release of funds, a lot of time has already been lost and there is no significant progress as yet in the implementation of the critical pending Pre-Transitional tasks that I can mention today. This, of course, is very disappointing. However, as RJMEC Chair, I am still confident that the mechanisms will make significant progress within the remaining 65 days. 

7.   I am aware that the NPTC has allocated some funds to support the representatives of the Agreement Parties within the RJMEC, which is welcome. It is my expectation that the government will continue to release funds in a timely manner to the NPTC throughout the extension period. Furthermore, I also expect that the issues of accountability and transparency will be addressed.

8.   Secondly, the unification of forces. As a result of the delay in the disbursement of funds, I must state that there has not been any meaningful progress to report on. To be specific, no screening, no selection and no training has taken place. In my last statement, I recommended that food and supplies, including the in-kind support stored in Juba, be sent to cantonment sites, and I would like the JMCC to report on whether this has been done. 

9.   Following on from last month’s security workshop, some planning has been taking place, and I understand that the refined plans of action that each mechanism developed were submitted to the NPTC. These were to be reviewed and consolidated, and I would request the NPTC to present the integrated plan. 

10.  The weekly coordination meetings of the mechanisms and the NPTC, that were agreed on at the security workshop have not been taking place, and I would like to know why? Despite my repeated appeal, 25 civilian centres continue to be occupied by the forces, 24 by the SSPDF, and 1 by the SPLM/A-IO. I expect CTSAMVM to give further details in its report. 

11.  Thirdly, the issue of the number of states and their boundaries. I was pleased that the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan convened a meeting of the Parties to resolve the issue of the number of states and their boundaries. This meeting was held over a three-day period in Juba from 2nd – 4th December 2019. I wish to commend H.E. David Mabuza, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, for demonstrating leadership as he chaired the meeting. I also appreciate the input of H.E. Stephen Kolonzo Musyoka of Kenya. The meeting narrowed the gaps between the positions of the Parties, and paved the way for possible compromise. I look forward to its reconvening in the near future. I urge the leadership of the Parties to expedite their deliberations on this matter and reach a compromise.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

12.  As you may recall, the Tripartite summit in Entebbe, Uganda, agreed on a mechanism to help expedite the implementation of the security arrangements of the Pre-Transitional period. This mechanism is now referred to as the Security Supervision Mechanism (SSM). Its Terms of Reference are ready, and have been submitted for approval by the Guarantors. I would kindly ask the IGAD Special Envoy’s Representative to this meeting to update us on the mechanism’s progress to date, including the modalities of how it will function and its plans for conducting the mid-term review.   

13.   I welcome the visit of Dr Riek Machar to Juba which began last week, and the meetings he held with H.E. Salva Kiir, President of the Republic of South Sudan, and other stakeholders. Dr Machar’s presence in Juba contributes in progressing the implementation of the Agreement, especially in resolving outstanding issues and on building further confidence amongst the Parties. I call upon the key principals to the Agreement to continue their engagement to ensure that progress is made.

14.  On the humanitarian situation, as you are aware there has been flooding in many parts of the country, leading to the loss of life and property.  I therefore want to offer my sympathies to those affected by the flooding, and I appeal for urgent humanitarian assistance.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

15.  We now have only 65 days left of the 100 days extension. Time has been lost for various reasons, including delay in funding. Much work remains to be done. In view of this, my recommendations are as follows:  

a)   Despite having received the funds as late as last Friday, 13thDecember, I expect the mechanisms to immediately embark on their action plans and fast-track implementation;

b)  I urge the mechanisms to coordinate effectively amongst themselves, and to prioritise the screening and selection of forces for training, and to ensure the delivery of food and supplies to cantonment sites and training centres;

c)   The Security Supervision Mechanism to commence its work and closely coordinate with the NPTC, the Office of the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, RJMEC and CTSAMVM;

d)  All security mechanisms, including the DDR Commission, should adhere to their refined action plans, and the NPTC should coordinate the mechanisms for effective implementation;

e)   The mechanisms should implement their activities giving due consideration to accountability and transparency;

f)    The IGAD Special Envoy to pursue the issue of the number of States and boundaries as a priority, and to remain seized of all the other outstanding issues, including urgently engaging the hold-out groups; and 

g)   I urge the Parties to compromise in resolving the number of States and their boundaries, and to cooperate fully in the unification of forces, so that the RTGoNU is established on a solid foundation and in a timely manner. 

16.   In closing, I would like to underline that with the funds now availed to the mechanisms, they must immediately embark on their priority tasks and accomplish as much as possible within the remaining 65 days.

17.   I wish you fruitful deliberations on the way forward. 

Thank you.