7. In terms of security, the intercommunal violence in various parts of the country over the past few months continues to be of great concern. I hope that recent activities on the issue of responsibility sharing at the state level will help to address the power vacuum in which these intercommunal clashes take place; and I welcome the President’s formation of a High-Level Committee to address the issue of intercommunal violence in Jonglei State and Pibor Administrative Area, under the leadership of H.E. Vice President Dr. James Wani Igga. I wish the Committee every success as the situation in Jonglei appears to be particularly serious. Furthermore, I encourage such an initiative to be replicated in other areas suffering from intercommunal violence.

8. Since my last statement, fighting in the Equatorias between the SSPDF and NAS, as well as between SPLA-IO and NAS, has continued and resulted in a number of deaths and displacement of civilians. These actions are violations which undermine both the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed in Addis Ababa in December 2017, and the Rome Declaration of January 2020, and I join with the IGAD Assembly in reiterating the appeal to all the parties concerned to address these issues as a matter of urgency. CTSAMVM has made considerable efforts to verify and investigate these clashes, but it still faces challenges due to a lack of communication with and access to NAS field commanders. I therefore urge the RTGoNU to engage with SSOMA and the Community of Sant’Egidio to operationalise the Rome Declaration of January 2020.

9. On the unification of forces and their reorganisation into the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF), there has been little substantive improvement to the challenging and austere conditions existing in many training centres and most cantonment sites since I reported on this issue in June 2020, although I understand that the government has allocated some funds to the NTC to assist in this area, which is a welcome development. The important matters of deployment and graduation plans of the NUF, and preparations for DDR, do not seem to be any further advanced than at the time of my last statement. I therefore request the RTGoNU to be seized of these Pre- Transitional tasks.

10. Recently, CTSAMVM reported that 49 SSPDF soldiers were arrested in connection with alleged rape, looting, killing and destruction of property of civilians in Lasu, Yei, Central Equatoria and that the court martial judge advocates had arrived in Yei to start their trials. The application of the due process is very welcome. However, there is a continuing prevalence of SGBV, in particular rape. CTSAMVM also reported that there are 12 SGBV investigations underway involving cases in Juba, Yei area, Magwi and Leer. There is need for RTGoNU to be seized of this matter to prevent further escalations.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

11. Now for a word on the humanitarian situation. The magnitude and severity of acute food insecurity is expected to increase as household food access becomes further constrained by high and rising food costs during the peak of the lean season in July and August 2020. Areas projected to be worst hit include Jonglei, Lakes, Warrap, and Upper Nile, where intercommunal conflict is persisting, and a forecast of above-average rainfall poses a high risk of flooding. It is important to note that intercommunal conflict also interferes with households’ ability to engage in productive livelihood activities. Furthermore, it is sad to note that two humanitarian workers lost their lives in Jonglei State during the month of July.

12. According to UNHCR reports, there has been a rise in the number of returnees. In June, a total of 11,383 South Sudanese refugees were verified to have returned from neighbouring countries, bringing to 24,137 the total number of refugees who have returned since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region in March 2020. The total number of spontaneous returns now stand at 193,101 since September 2018. I urge the RTGoNU to pay sufficient attention to Article 3.1.2.1 of the R-ARCSS, mandating programmes for relief, protection, repatriation, resettlement, reintegration and rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and returnees.

13. Now, the economic situation. Concerted efforts by OPEC+, a group comprising OPEC members and other oil producing countries, including South Sudan, have succeeded in reducing global daily output of oil by around 10 million barrels per day. This has lifted the oil price up from around USD 20 in April to around USD 40 – 45 in July. Nevertheless, this is still USD 20 below the pre-pandemic level.According tothe Undersecretary of the Ministry of Petroleum, South Sudan’s official oil production has dropped by around 20,000 barrels per day, while lockdowns to control the pandemic delay the transport of production equipment and materials. The combined effect of low prices, reduced production, and pressures to pay arrears is expected to lead to a large deterioration in government finances in this budget year.

14. I am encouraged to hear that, as required in Article 4.3.1.1 of the R- ARCSS, the government has commenced work on reviewing the National Development strategy and aligning it to the R-ARCSS. Sector Working Groups have been reactivated, strengthening the planning process and contributing to improved coordination and alignment of donor support with national priorities.

c) I reiterate my appeal to the signatories of the Rome Declaration to pursue the Sant’Egidio peace process, including adherence to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of December 2017 and the Rome Declaration of January 2020;

4. d)  I urge the RTGoNU to ensure safety and protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, as well as access for humanitarian workers;

5. e)  I urge the Parties to the R-ARCSS to implement all measures to prevent SGBV and other violations, and ensure due process;

6. f)  The RTGoNU to make clear its political vision for the implementation of the R-ARCSS in the Transitional Period, and the NTC likewise to make clear its plans; and

7. g)  The RTGoNU, through the relevant ministries, to commence or further the discussions andstakeholderconsultationsnecessary for theestablishment of the transitional justice institutions mandated by Chapter 5.

17. In closing, I would like to say that this is my final statement to you, the members of RJMEC. I would like to thank the President, H.E. Salva Kiir, and his government, the Parties to the RARCSS, the regional and international guarantors, and the Other South Sudanese Stakeholders and Adherents. I thank all of you for your continued engagement both in our meetings and in the peace process in South Sudan. This is a truly worthwhile endeavour and I am sure my successor, Major General Charles Tai Gituai, will do everything in his power to help this country down the path to sustainable peace. I hope all of you will extend the same support to him as I myself have enjoyed. I would also like to thank IGAD and the Government of Kenya for the confidence they showed in me in appointing me to RJMEC. Finally, I would like to thank all of you the members of RJMEC and my own Secretariat for the tremendous cooperation and support during my time as the Deputy Chairperson and as Interim Chairperson. It has been an honour to serve. God bless you, the people of South Sudan. May the Almighty God bring sustainable peace to His people.

Thank you.