STATEMENT BY H.E. AMB. MAJ GEN (rtd) CHARLES TAI GITUAI, INTERIM CHAIRPERSON, RJMEC ON RJMEC’S ASSESSMENT OF THE SOUTH SUDAN PEACE PROCESS AND ITS EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE R-ARCSS, DELIVERED TO THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL, JUNE 20, 2023, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

 President of the UN Security Council,

-       Distinguished Members of the Council,

-       Excellencies, 

-       Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

Madam President,

1.    At the outset, permit me to congratulate you and the United Arab Emirates, for being elected member of the United Nations Security Council for the year 2022-2023 and assuming your second presidency of the council in the month of June 2023.  I would also like to thank you for inviting the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) to address this esteemed Council.

2.    RJMEC is the official oversight body responsible for overseeing, monitoring and evaluating the status of the implementation of the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and are mandated to submit reports and brief this Council amongst others, on a quarterly basis.  

3.    Over the last five years of the implementation of the Agreement, South Sudan has enjoyed its longest period of relative peace and stability since its independence in 2011. However, the pace of implementation of the Agreement has been slow, as much of what was expected to have been implemented by end of the stipulated 36 months of the Transitional Period was not achieved.

4.    Consequently, the Revitalised Peace Agreement was extended for 24 months, from February 2023 to February 2025, to enable the completion of the unification of forces, the making of the permanent constitution, and to prepare for the conduct of credible, free and fair elections in December 2024.

5.    My briefing to this august Council therefore will briefly highlight our assessment of the South Sudan peace process and the RJMEC’s ongoing efforts in support of its implementation and conclude with some recommendations. 

Madam President,

6.    Overall, key achievements in the implementation of the Agreement include the following: Under governance, the executive and legislative arms of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) have been established and operationalised at both the national and state levels. The dispute over the number of states was resolved, and the Revitalised Peace Agreement was incorporated into the Transitional Constitution. Also, some crucial legal, judicial, and institutional reforms are ongoing. 

7.    On the Transitional Security Arrangements, approximately 55,000 of the 83,000 Phase 1 Necessary Unified Forces were trained and graduated. These troops remain in their training areas awaiting deployment to their respective units. However, Phase 2 and Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process is yet to commence.  

8.    On humanitarian affairs, the opening of key humanitarian corridors has facilitated the return of some South Sudanese refugees and IDPs. Some economic reforms have been implemented, encouraging greater transparency and accountability but this, too, remains a work in progress. 

9.    On transitional justice, progress is being made in the drafting of the bills for the establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) and the Compensation and Reparations Authority (CRA). Once these institutions are established, will drive forward the much-needed process for reconciliation and healing in South Sudan. 

10.    In terms of the Permanent Constitution, the law to govern its making has been enacted, and steps are being taken to operationalise it. I would like to underscore, state that under the Agreement, elections at the end of the Transitional Period should be held under a new permanent constitution.

Madam President,

11.    The main challenges which have slowed down progress in the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement include trust deficit among the Parties, lack of adequate resources, capacity gaps, persistent levels of intercommunal violence in the states, negative activities of the holdout groups, and natural calamities like floods.

12.     Most recently, additional strain has been placed on humanitarian and other resources in South Sudan by the influx of refugees and returnees from the conflict in the Republic of Sudan.

Madam President,

13.   Elections are due in December 2024, which is around eighteen months from now. In order to conduct free, fair and credible elections, the following critical benchmarks need to be attained as per the Revitalised Peace Agreement:

a.        Completion of the unification and redeployment of forces, in order to provide election-related security;

b.        Reconstitution and operationalisation of the institutions tasked with preparation and conduct of elections, namely the Political Parties Council and the National Elections Commission;

c.         The making of a people-led and people-owned Permanent Constitution, to guide the conduct of elections;

d.        Judicial reforms to enhance the capacity and independence of the judicial institutions to deal with elections related disputes; and 

e.         Improvement to the overall political and civic space in which multiparty elections are conducted.   

Madam President,

14.   At this critical juncture of the extended period of the Revitalised Agreement, the RTGoNU requires more support from this Council and the international community for it to be able to complete the implementation of the critical pending tasks of the R-ARCSS. 

15.   Without predictable and adequate funding, our assessment is that South Sudan will continue to struggle to adhere to implementation schedule of the R-ARCSS. In RJMECs view, the international community can support the South Sudanese efforts, especially by directly funding the constitution making process, Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) as well as in the preparation and conduct of elections. 

Madam President,

16.   With regard to RJMEC’s efforts in support of the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, RJMEC continues to monitor and evaluate, and oversee the mandate and tasks of the RTGoNU, including the adherence by the Parties to the agreed timelines and implementation schedule in accordance with Chapter 7 of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.

17.   RJMEC’s objective and impartial reports, and all-inclusive stakeholders monthly plenary meetings, continue to inspire confidence in the peace process and encourages the Parties to stay the course for peace. 

18.    Our regular quarterly evaluation reports to the RTGoNU, IGAD, the AU Peace and Security Council, and to this Council, help create focus, unity of purpose and informs policy decision making on South Sudan and the implementation of the Agreement.

19.   RJMEC continues to oversee the work of all Agreement Institutions and Mechanisms, break deadlocks among the Parties and regularly engages with the Parties to the Agreement, key peace partners, and other South Sudanese stakeholders in a bid to build consensus and expedite progress.

Madam President,

20.   In conclusion, I would like to underscore that the R-ARCSS, legitimizes the Transitional Government of national Unity in South Sudan and remains the most plausible blueprint for a peaceful transition and in building enduring peace in the Republic of South Sudan.  With the prospects of elections looming only 18 months away, there is need for our collective efforts to focus on South Sudan at this critical time and ensure that the Agreement is implemented in letter and spirit. 

21.   In that regard, I would like to appeal to this Council to remain seized of the peace process in South Sudan, engage the RTGoNU to expedite implementation of the Peace Agreement and to conduct elections as scheduled, and to consider visiting Juba at this critical time of election preparations and to stand in solidarity with the people of South Sudan. 

I Thank You.