-     Rt Honourable Speaker,

-     Rt Honourable Deputy Speakers,

-     Honourable Members,

-     Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good morning.

1.    It is a great honour and privilege for the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) to brief this august Assembly on the status of implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

2.    This briefing is pursuant to Article 7.9 of the Revitalised Peace Agreement which mandates RJMEC to, among others, report quarterly on the status of implementation of the Agreement, followed by detailed briefings to the Executive of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) and its Council of Ministers and the reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA). 

3.    Furthermore, RJMEC is mandated to brief the Chairperson of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, the United Nations Security Council and the Secretary General of the United Nations.

4.    Today is more than five-and-half years since the signing of the Revitalised Peace Agreement, more than four years into the Transitional Period and less than nine months to the elections scheduled for December 2024. The progress made to date shows that the South Sudanese leaders and people have collectively demonstrated that lasting peace, stability and development are possible and within reach.   

5.    In that regard, the collective will power and determination on the part of the RTGoNU Executive, and members of the reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly are essential for the full implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement.

6.    My briefing this morning is a summary of the RJMEC Quarterly Report covering the period from 1st  January to 31stMarch 2024, and highlights the progress made in implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement, critical pending tasks, challenges and key milestones that need to be reached as South Sudan prepares for elections, noting that overall, there has been slow progress in the implementation.

Right Hon. Speaker, Honorable Members,

7.    Under governance, progress has been made in legislative, judicial and institutional reforms. For example, the National Constitutional Amendment Committee completed its mandate of reviewing 24 pieces of legislation to conform to the Peace Agreement and international best practice. Of this about 10 have enacted into law, three (03) await assent of the President and five (05) are before this august Assembly and await enactment. RJMEC urges the expeditious enactment of these critical laws, including the National Security Service Bill which is long overdue.

8.    On its part, the Judicial Reform Committee also completed its mandate and drafted its final report with recommendations on judicial reforms aimed at ensuring an independent and credible judiciary to the RTGoNU. This report is  due for stakeholders validation and handover to the RTGoNU. RJMEC therefore urges the RTGoNU to support the JRC in this regard.

9.    In addition, the National Elections Commission, the Political Parties Council and the National Constitutional Review Commission which were reconstituted in the previous quarter undertook a series of induction workshops, including development and validation of their internal policy documents, workplans and budget for implementation in line with their respective mandates. RJMEC understands that budget for the operationalisation of these critical institutions and mechanisms awaits tabling and approval by this August House and appeals for urgency. 

10. On the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements, whereas the Permanent Ceasefire continues to hold among Parties to the Agreement, there are concerns regarding the activities of the National Salvation Front (NAS), including skirmishes with the SSPDF mostly in the southern part of Central Equatoria, as well as clashes between the SPLA-IO and defectors affiliated with the SSPDF such as General Simon Maguek in Unity State. Of similar concern is also  intercommunal violence in areas such as Greater Pibor Administrative Area, and Jonglei and Upper Nile states with mainly civilians bearing the brunt.  

11. Regarding completion of the unification of forces, there has been no substantive progress since the reported redeployment of 4,000 Phase I Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) during the last quarter. Similarly, there has not been any movement on the preparations for Phase II NUF training and the situation in cantonment sites remains dire. The unification of the middle echelon has been delayed. Further, the DDR process for all forces ineligible to join the NUF lacks funding from the RTGoNU and partners, therefore those troops remain in the training centres. DDR is a critical component of the unification process which should not be ignored.  However, it is encouraging that the Strategic Defense and Security Review Board is now in the process of validating the security sector policy frameworks, its final step.

12. The humanitarian situation remains bleak with increasing needs and over nine million people requiring assistance. Continuing depreciation of the local currency, the South Sudanese Pound, has inflated food prices, which increased by 19 percent in February 2024 compared to January 2024, thus worsening the situation of the population, many of whom were already acutely food insecure. 

13. The conflict in the Republic of Sudan has further excerbated the humanitarian crisis. By end of March, over 640,000 people were reported to have crossed into South Sudan from Sudan since 15 April 2023. Given the limited resources, responders were unable to provide adequate clean water, food, shelter and healthcare for the arriving populations. Overcrowding and unhygienic living conditions were reported in Bulukat and Renk transit centres in Upper Nile State. Taxation of humanitarian relief materials, illegal checkpoints, and insecurity along humanitarian corridors continued to undermine the R-ARCSS expectation that there will be unfettered access for millions of South Sudanese in need of humanitarian assitance from the United Nations and impartial international and national Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

Right Hon. Speaker, Honorable Members,

14. The implementation of the Public Financial Management reforms has been slow within the quarter. The work of the PFM Oversight Committee is ongoing but has been faced with a few administrative challenges.  It continued to monitor the non-oil revenue collection, which has progressively performed well as a result of recent reforms of the National Revenue Authority (NRA). However, data on oil revenue for the period has not been released following challenges posed by insecurity in Sudan on the lifting and export of crude oil respectively. Exports have been disrupted since the last week of February 2024.

15. Based on recommendations of the private sector development strategy, the business environment has been improved by formalising a good number of informal businesses. In addition, an  innovative initiative launched by the UNDP and Stanbic Bank aim to provide microfinance for vulnerable youth, ex-combatants, returnees and IDPs. Despite these commendable activities, the relevant pieces of legislation to ensure sustainability have not been passed, namely the bills for the establishment of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund and the Women Enterprise Development Fund. Another important legislation that needs to be enacted is regulating non-bank financial institutions.

16. Under Transitional Justice, there has been no change during the quarter. During the last reporting period, the Council of Ministers deliberated and approved the Bills for the establishment of the Commission for Truth Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) and the Compensation and Reparation Authority (CRA). On 5 December 2023, the two Bills were tabled before this august Assembly for consideration for enactment. 

17. Regarding the making of the Permanent Constitution, the National Constitutional Review Commission validated and adopted its draft internal documents. The Commission awaits funding in order to commence its work, including civic education, public consultation and the recruitment of the Constitutional Drafting Committee and the establishment of the Preparatory Sub-Committee for the convening of the National Constitutional Conference.  Funding of the NCRC budget was approved by the Council of Ministers and now requires this august House immediate attention.                              

Right Hon. Speaker, Honorable Members,

18. The challenges impeding progress in the implementation of the R-ARCSS include, among others, lack of adherence to the letter and spirit of the R-ARCSS; military defections which continue to undermine the confidence in the R-ARCSS and in some instances trigger conflict; insufficient political will and trust among some Parties; insufficient resources for implementation of the Agreement; capacity gaps in the Agreement Institutions and Mechanisms and lack of political and civic space.

19. While the current focus continues to be on the holding of elections in a timely manner, due attention should be given to expediting the completion of the pending critical tasks, which are prerequisites to the conduct of credible elections within the framework of the Agreement. Foremost among those are unification of forces and the making of a permanent constitution. There is also a need for this august Assembly to prioritize and ensure the passage of the Agreement related legislation most particulaly the National Security Service, CTRH and CRA Bills. Passage of the NSS Bill in its current form, as agreed by the Parties at Presidency level, will help in the deepening and further protection of political and civic space in the build-up to elections. The transitional justice bills once passed will allow for the establishment of the critical mechanisms that will spearhead the processes of truth telling, justice, healing, reconciliation, compensation and reparations,  In addition, following through on the establishment of the Special Reconstruction Fund will help channel additional resources to deal with the growing humanitarian situation and address the needs of the returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

20. In light of the aforementioned, the RJMEC recommends the Parties to the Agreement and Relevant Stakeholders to provide clarity on how it will complete the critical pending tasks and create the necessary conditions for the conduct of elections in a timely manner. It further recommends that they should embrace the call for dialogue in the spirit of collegiality and present to the people of South Sudan a unified plan for elections, with practical steps to fast-track the implementation of the Roadmap to ensure the timely conduct of elections.

21. In addition, the RJMEC recommends that the RTGoNU considers undertaking the following measures:

a.    Expedite additional funding to the   NCRC and NEC  in order to enhance the making of a people-led and a people-owned Permanent Constitution in accordance with provisions of the Constitution Making Process Act 2022, and provide resources to undertake the election-related tasks; 

b.    provide resources for the elections process while engaging with the international community to support its efforts;

c.     together with partners, expedite judicial reforms based on the JRC recommendations in a manner that compliments the permanent constitution making process and the conduct of elections;

d.    fast-track the dialogue towards achieving its goal of delivering a clear path as well as actionable political guidance on the way forward in an effort to sustain peace throughout the country;

e.    address the ongoing intercommunal violence consistent with its obligations to maintain security throughout the country; 

f.     provide, as a matter of urgency, all the resources necessary to deploy the remaining NUF, complete harmonisation of the command structure so that the country can have a unified force with a national character under one Commander-in-Chief and fund the DDR process, a critical component of the unifcation of forces; and

g.    establish the Special Reconstruction Fund with a view to helping to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country.

22. Further, RJMEC appeals to the TNLA to expedite enactment of all pending amendment bills, including the National Security Services Bill, NGO Amendment Bill, and Transitional Justice bills and, to support the process of funding the constitution and election-making processes. 

23. It further urges the TNLA to encourage the Parties to conduct the dialogue process in a manner that enables the acheivement of  its goal of delivering a clear path towards to sustainable peace throughout the country; 

24. In conclusion, the end of the Transitional Period is less than 12 months as scheduled, yet very critical tasks remains unimplemented. It is essential that this August House galvanized the Parties to consolidate the peace dividends achieved since the Revitalised Peace Agreement was signed in 2018 and agree on a clear path for a peaceful and democratic end to the Transitional Period..

I Thank You!

-     Hon. Dr. Riang Yar Zuor, Chairperson of the NCRC

-       Dr. Awak Bior Ajang, Deputy Chairperson,

-       Hon. Abraham John Nantana, Secretary General,

-       Members of the Commission,

-       Your Excellencies,

-       Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning,

1.    I am honoured to address you all, this morning, on this very important and momentous occasion. Today’s induction of the members of the reconstituted National Constitutional Review Commission (R-NCRC) is historic for two main reasons. 

2.    First, it is because of the critical importance of the permanent constitution under the Revitalised Peace Agreement in anchoring lasting stability, a peaceful transition and good governance after the Agreement; and secondly, because of the high expectation from us all and the public on this reconstituted Commission to realise the making of a people-led and people-owned permanent constitution, that will enshrine the collective wishes and aspirations of the people of South Sudan on how they wish to be governed.

3.    My brief remarks this morning will therefore centre on only these two aspects, namely: the importance of the permanent constitution under the Revitalized Peace Agreement and the critical role of the reconstituted NCRC to ensure that the permanent constitution is made and reflects the will and aspiration of the people of South Sudan. 

4.    On the first point, the Permanent Constitution as envisaged in the Revitalised Peace Agreement is sine qua non to the realisation of lasting peace and good governance in the Republic of South Sudan. The success or failure of this over 5 years Transitional Period will highly depend on the promulgation of a popular constitutional arrangement that fulfils the aspiration of the people of South Sudan in its diversity. The permanent constitution is expected to plant the seeds and become the cornerstone of constitutionalism and good governance in this country after the elections.

5.    As you may recall, in the preamble of the R-ARCSS, the Parties to the Revitalized Peace Agreement, inter alia declared as follows, and I quote:

“Mindful of our commitment under the TCRSS 2011 as amended, to lay the foundation for a united, peaceful and prosperous society based on justice, equality, respect for human rights and the rule of law; Deeply regretting the scale of untold human suffering that had befallen our country and people as a result of disregarding this commitment; and determined to compensate our people by recommitting ourselves to peace and constitutionalism and not to repeat mistakes of the past…”.

6.    In this regard, one of the core tasks of the RTGoNU is to ensure that the Permanent Constitution-making process is successfully carried out and completed before the end of the Transitional Period (see Art. 1.2.5). The process is pivotal in that the provisions of the Permanent Constitution are expected to guide the conduct of elections at the end of the Transitional Period (Art. 1.20.5). Accordingly, under Article 1.20.6 of the R-ARCSS, the National Elections Act 2023 is expected to be amended to conform with the provisions of the Permanent Constitution upon its promulgation. The RTGoNU and Parties to the Agreement, therefore, should not renege on this solemn commitment, and deny the people of South Sudan this golden opportunity.

7.     In addition, and as clearly stated in the concept note for this induction workshop, as well as stipulated in the Constitution Making Process Act 2022, the permanent constitution is expected to be based on inter alia: the supremacy of the people of South Sudan; initiate a federal and democratic system of government that reflects the character of South Sudan; guarantee peace and stability, national unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of South Sudan; promote peoples participation in the governance of the country through democratic free and fair elections and the devolution of powers and resources to the states and counties and respecting ethnic and regional diversity and communal rights including the rights of communities to preserve their history, develop their language, promote their culture and expression of their identities, to mention but just a few. There is no doubt that the Permanent Constitution when made in an inclusive and participatory manner, will go a long way in addressing all the root causes of conflicts in this country. 

8.    On the second point, regarding the pivotal role of this reconstituted Commission in realising the promises for a South Sudanese-led and South Sudanese-owned Permanent Constitution, I only wish to state as follows: this Commission owes the people of this country a huge sense of purpose and responsibility. 

9.    In this regard, I would like to first congratulate all of you upon being entrusted with this enormous and consequential responsibility to guide the country in the making of what will be a historic grand norm, the Permanent Constitution. 

10.    Secondly, I assure you all that you are constitutionally mandated to guide the country going forward on how to arrive at a people-led and people-owned permanent constitution. In this regard, the Commission is entrusted to, inter-alia:

a.   Formulate its own rules of procedure;

b.   Develop its work plan;

c.    Recruit members of the various committees

d.   Facilitate and promote a multi-phased and multi-faceted civic education and guarantee the accessibility of civic education materials to all sectors of the public;

e.   Conduct multi-phased and multifaceted public consultation, which covers all constitutional issues of relevance in collaboration with non-state actors supported by public media platforms;

f.     Receive, analyse, and consider inputs and submissions from public participation and consultations;

g.   Transmit the outcome of public consultations to the drafting Committee

h.    Validate the draft constitutional text;

i.     Publish the first draft constitutional texts;

j.     Present to the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) and the CDC, a report containing the outcome of the first stage of public consultations, and conduct civic education following the adoption of the Permanent Constitution.

11.    As RJMEC, the Commission can count on our full support. I appeal to the Commission to live up to its expectations and discharge its aforementioned mandate as per the Revitalized Peace Agreement, and the Permanent Constitution Making Process Act 2022. It is critical to note that going by the roadmap timelines, we are far behind schedule and therefore time is of the essence. The R-NCRC is expected to get up and running without any further delays. Consequently, it is imperative that the Commission use this induction workshop, to swiftly consider and adopt practical rules of procedure, endorse the draft budget, and action plan, as well as agree on a practical strategy to immediately commence civic education and robust public consultation campaigns, to promote public debate and awareness on critical constitutional issues. 

12.    Pursuant to article 7.8 of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, the reconstituted NCRC will be expected to report on the status of its work to RJMEC and also regularly brief the RJMEC monthly plenary. Lastly, as the Chairperson of RJMEC, I must say that I am confident that this Commission, with the support from the RTGoNU and partners, will deliver on its mandate. 

13.    Finally, let us all pull together and serve this nation with dedication and make our space in the constitutional history of this country.

14.    I wish you all fruitful deliberations during the workshop.

I Thank You. 

-       Excellencies 

-       Honourable Members of Parliament 

-       Distinguished Guests 

-       Ladies and Gentlemen

1.    Good morning. I would like to thank the organisers of this event for putting together this workshop at this timely moment. I also wish to commend the Parties for their attendance and their continued commitment to the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement.

2.    The Political Parties Forum is an important framework to enhance political space for members of political parties to build trust, share information, reconnect, negotiate political issues, and promote political space for all political actors. RJMEC has had the opportunity to participate in several of these forums at national and state level and can attest to their positive impact.

3.    I am aware that during this year, these forums have provided Parties with the opportunity to dialogue on several issues in support of the implementation of the R-ARCSS. These discussions have included among others the status of implementation of the Roadmap, electoral timelines and processes, the roles of political parties in the democratic transition, the expansion of the political and civic space, the creation of a level playing field for all parties in the election process, and the development of strategies to further trust and confidence building between political parties. This is indeed commendable. 

4.    Therefore, it is important to understand that political parties are essential for democracies to function, as well as for the promotion of peace and stability and the prevention of violent conflict. Their functions, representation, interest aggregation and articulation, recruitment of electoral candidates and the formation of government, cannot be duplicated by any other civil society or private organization.

5.    Democratization is always a politically contentious process, and this is particularly true in volatile post-conflict settings. Without strong political and state institutions, components of democratization such as elections and political party competition can raise tensions or, in extreme cases, lead to renewed conflict. Therefore, it is essential to support inclusive multi-party dialogues in order to help parties to overcome mistrust and suspicion, which often obstruct pragmatic dialogue on national political concerns.  

6.    A multiparty system cannot function effectively in a country emerging from a post conflict situation, when there is no willingness to discuss divergent views, where trust is eroded and no one party is willing to seek consensus and mutual understanding. However, political parties’ development and multiparty dialogues are necessary steps towards the creation of stable, democratic political systems that can be conducive to development, the protection of human rights, conflict prevention and resolution of conflict.

7.    The stability and effectiveness of a political party system is not only determined by its legal framework, but by the checks and balances within the system, and the parties’ organization and general democratic practices within the party. The stability and effectiveness of political parties hinge upon the existence of mechanisms for parties to engage in interparty dialogue and cooperation, especially in a post conflict situation.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,  

8.    According to the Revitalised Agreement, elections are due to take place about one year from now in December 2024 and 60 days prior to the end of the Transitional Period. The Agreement requires that the elections birth a democratically elected government and should be free, fair, credible and reflect the will of the electorate. Credible elections and election processes are therefore a vital corner stone in the laying of the foundation for a united, peaceful and prosperous South Sudan.

9.    The Revitalized Agreement prohibits the Parties to the Agreement from committing certain acts by the Permanent Ceasefire during the Transitional Period which includes the electoral period. Actions such as engaging in hostile propaganda or hate speech including social media to foment ethnic or secretion hatred are prohibited. Violent actions such as attacking the civilian population, sexual and gender-based violence are also strictly prohibited. Parties are also required to take specific positive measures such as protection of the media, civil society and the most vulnerable population in the Transitional Period. The Revitalized Agreement requires the Parties to ensure accountability against their own members in the event of any such breaches. 

It is important for the parties to consider drawing lessons from the experience of the Permanent Ceasefire, of which we have so far achieved in terms of continued observance, on the one hand and making all effort to ensure safety and credibility of elections that is nonviolent.  

10.    Furthermore, the National Elections Act provides that the National Election Commission should develop legally binding codes of conduct for persons who wish to participate in elections such as candidates, parties and others. It is therefore important for South Sudan to consider drawing up such rules that circumscribe acceptable and unacceptable conduct of those who participate in elections so that they can be free, fair and credible. 

11.    In addition, the African Union Peace and Security Council, at its 1186th Meeting held 16thNovember 2023 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, through its Communique, urged the parties to negotiate a code of conduct and sign it with full authority to commit themselves to fairness, respect, accountability and acceptability to South Sudan regardless of appointments or results of the elections. 

12.    With this in mind, I therefore urge the parties to robustly engage with each other bearing in mind that a broad, inclusive dialogue among all political parties helps to build relationships based on trust, democratic tolerance and transparency and facilitates the exchange of good practices.  This constructive dialogue can help build consensus on practical steps that can be taken to secure the electoral environment for the country and ensure attainment of necessary milestones including the timely conduct of elections. 

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,  

13.    This September 2023 marked five years since the Revitalised Peace Agreement was signed in September 2018. South Sudan has now experienced the longest period of peace and stability since its independence in 2011. This is a commendable achievement for which I congratulate the Parties and the people of South Sudan. Clearly the theme of this convening being “Uniting for a Peaceful Political Transition and Elections in South Sudan” is quite appropriate considering where we are, in the implementation process. I commend the organizers for choosing this theme and wish you all fruitful deliberations.

14.    I wish you good tidings for the holidays, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

I Thank You. 

- Major General Hailu Gonfa Eddosa, Chairperson of CTSAMVM, 

-         Distinguished Members of the CTSAMVM Board,

-         Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning!

1.   At the outset, allow me to thank Major General Hailu Gonfa Eddosa, Chairperson of CTSAMVM, for his leadership of this very important mechanism since his he became Chairperson. General,  as always, I would like to assure you of RJMEC’s full support and cooperation as you lead CTSAMVM at this critical time in the South Sudan peace process. 

2.   I welcome the resumption of the sittings of the CTSAMVM Board, especially after aborted Board meeting of 26 July 2023. CTSAMVM is a critical Agreement mechanism with the mandate of monitoring, verification, compliance and reporting on the status of the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements. 

3.   As you are all aware, CTSAMVM has made valuable contributions to the peace process, including in the continuous monitoring of the permanent ceasefire, underscoring of the protection of civilians, investigating and verifying alleged violations, including helping in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). 

4.   To that end, CTSAMVM has submitted many verified violations reports to RJMEC and IGAD since the signing of the R-ARCSS in 2018 and remedial actions were undertaken on the basis of such reports. I commend CTSAMVM for such dedicated contributions which enhanced confidence of the Parties, the region, and partners in the institution and, by extension, enhanced overall confidence in the peace process. 

Distinguished Members,

5.   Since July 2022, CTSAMVM has faced serious logistical and operational challenges when the US Government withdrew its funding to the mechanism. Despite the marked reduction in funding, CTSAMVM has continued to perform its functions and has adapted accordingly. However, like for many of us, the new funding situation has necessitated reforms and streamlining, which included a reduction in the number of its international monitors. 

6.   Besides, the initial funding stream from the RTGoNU for the national monitors that was very critical, dwindled. The delays in the payment of the allowances of the National Monitors affected their morale, resulting in their boycott of work for some time. The matter was addressed following funding support received from the Government of Japan. This resulted in the resumption of work by the National Monitors.

7.   I would like to underscore the critical role that the National Members within CTSAMVM play in providing balanced party perspectives in their reports, and for this to be performed at maximum effectiveness, there is a need for cooperation, coordination and understanding to strengthen the requisite conducive working atmosphere.

8.   That notwithstanding, CTSAMVM meetings were  interrupted in April 2023 due to some concerns by the Senior National Representatives. As you are aware, four CTC Senior National Representatives wrote a letter, dated 22nd May 2023, addressed to H.E. Dr Ismail Wais, IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, and the Interim Chairperson of RJMEC and copied to you, on the subject of ‘Challenges Facing Functions and Operations of CTSAMVM”. This letter, in summary, highlighted five key issues, namely the CTSAMVM structure; leadership; finance and the Terms of Reference of the CTSAMVM Board and CTC. 

9.   The four CTC members also indicated that their issues must be resolved before they would resume work. To date, their boycott has affected the smooth functioning and operations of CTSAMVM.

10.  Pursuant to articles 7.7 and 7.8 of the R-ARCSS, RJMEC is mandated to provide oversight to the work of all the Agreement Institutions and Mechanisms, including CTSAMVM. As an institution of IGAD (sub-article 2.1.10.5 of the R-ARCSS), CTSAMVM is mandated to regularly report to IGAD and RJMEC. Consequently, IGAD is central in the administrative and operational management of CTSAMVM.

Distinguished Members,

11.  In response to the letter, I held separate meetings with the concerned parties, CTSAMVM leadership, and later with the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan and the IGAD Executive Secretary. Thus, in the course of my extensive consultations with the leaderships of CTSAMVM and IGAD on this matter, it was established that most of the issues raised were structural and administrative, occasioned primarily by the lack of clarity and/or misinterpretation of CTSAMVM’s administrative and operational structure under the Revitalised Peace Agreement. 

12.  To address this, IGAD reviewed, streamlined and endorsed the Terms of Reference of the CTSAMVM Board, and the Chairperson of CTSAMVM. Copies have been provided to you for your reference.  

13.  IGAD also provided guidelines to RJMEC, as an oversight body of the R-ARCSS, to draft the CTC Terms of Reference (ToR) which are supposed to be in harmony with the endorsed Terms of Reference of the Board and the Chairperson of CTSAMVM, and in accordance with the current financial and operational realities of CTSAMVM. 

14.  Consequently, on 26 July 2023, the CTSAMVM Board was convened so that the CTSAMVM Chairperson and I could brief the  Board on the work that had been done to address the concerns presented by the four Senior National Representatives, as well as present to the Board the new ToR of the Chairperson, the Board, and the draft ToR for the CTC for approval by the Board. Unfortunately, the Board meeting was aborted due to the absence of some Board members. 

15.  Following this setback, I met with H.E. Riek Machar Teny the First Vice President, H.E. Hussein Abdulbagi, Vice President, Hon. Tut Gatluak, Presidential Security Adviser, and Hon. Minister Martin Lomuro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, in an effort to resolve the CTC challenge. Recently, I convened another meeting with the four Senior National Representatives and the CTSAMVM leadership, and agreed to form a joint committee to review the CTC ToR. Last week the Committee presented to RJMEC its report and a revised CTC ToR. Following a constructive discussion, a consensus draft CTC ToR was reached.

Distinguished Members,

16.  The purpose of today’s Extra-Ordinary Board Meeting is to brief the Board on its IGAD approved revised ToR and that of the Chairperson, as well as on the draft ToR of the CTC which the Board is required to approve. The approval of the CTC ToR will unlock the work of the CTC that has stalled since April this year. Importantly, the nine pending violation reports will immediately be processed, submitted to the RJMEC and IGAD, and finally published. This will enable the Parties to act and provide the necessary remedies to the violations, including accountability.

17.  In conclusion, with the CTC challenge behind us, we need to turn a new page and renew our efforts, especially as we get closer to elections were CTSAMVM is most needed to be more robust in its work in the event of likely increase of violations. In this regard, it is critical that RJMEC, IGAD and the international partners work closely in support of this very important Agreement mechanism.

18.  I wish you all fruitful deliberations in the review and subsequent consideration of the CTC Terms of Reference.  

I Thank You.  

OPENING REMARKS BY AMBASSADOR BERHANU KEBEDE, RJMEC CHIEF OF STAFF, DELIVERED AT THE THIRD STAKEHOLDERS’ HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL RELATED ISSUED IN THE OIL PRODUCING AREAS AND THE STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 5% SHARE OF NET OIL REVENUES FOR OIL PRODUCING STATES AND COMMUNITIES 24-26 OCTOBER 2023

- Rt Honourable Speaker,

-                Rt Honourable Deputy Speakers,

-                Honourable Members,

-                Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good morning

1.    I am honoured, as the Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), to brief the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly on the status of implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). This briefing is pursuant to Article 7.9 of the Revitalised Peace Agreement which mandates RJMEC to report quarterly to and brief this august House. It therefore covers the second quarter of this year, from April 1 to  June 30, 2023. 

2.    During this period, I had the opportunity to brief H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, Presidentof the Republic of South Sudan, H.E. Dr Riek Machar, First Vice President, H.E. Dr William S. Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, and the United Nations Security Council on the status of implementation of the R-ARCSS. 

3.    In addition, I attended the 14th Ordinary Summit of the IGAD Heads of State and Government in Djibouti, and held substantive discussions with H.E. Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of IGAD and H.E. Dr Ismail Wais, IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan. The focus of the RJMEC’s engagements highlighted above was to provide a detailed assessment on the status of implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, raise concerns over the slow pace of implementation and highlight risks associated with the parties’ inability to complete implementation of the critical benchmarks required for the conduct of peaceful and credible elections in 2024. I also appealed for more support to the South Sudan peace process.  

4.    In light of the aforementioned, my briefing to this august House is a summary of the RJMEC Quarterly Report which was earlier forwarded to you. I will provide a chapter-by-chapter update on the status of implementation for the reporting period, highlight critical pending tasks in the Roadmap, particularly those critical for the conduct of elections, reflect on the recurring challenges and conclude with recommendations. 

Rt Hon. Speaker, Honourable Members.

5.    In terms of governance, some progress has been made by the ad hoc Judicial Reform Committee (JRC)  pursuant to its mandate of studying and making recommendations to the RTGoNU for consideration on appropriate judicial reforms in the Republic of South Sudan. To that end, the JRC held regional public consultations in three States in the country in June 2023 so as to incorporate stakeholders’ perspectives to enrich its report. 

6.    The mandate of the National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) tasked by the R-ARCSS to draft, amend and review legislation which lapsed in May 2023 was extended by the RTGoNU for an additional six months to enable the Committee to complete its tasks. The following are the pending legislation to be reviewed and amended by the NCAC: the Non-Governmental Organisation Act, the Investment Promotion Act, the Mining Act, the Transport Act, the Pension Fund Act, and the Telecommunication Act.

7.    On national elections, the Roadmap of the R-ARCSS provides that elections are to be held in December 2024. For this to happen, legal, security and institutional frameworks for holding credible elections should be in place by now. These benchmarks include, among others, enactment of the National Elections Bill, and reconstitution and full operationalization of the National Elections Commission (NEC) and the Political Parties Council (PPC). The National Elections Amendment Bill is before this august House for consideration to pave the way for reconstitution of the National Elections Commission. 

8.    Progress towards operationalisation of the Political Parties Council has been slow despite the enactment of the Political Parties (Amendment) Act in June 2022. The Political Parties Council is a crucial institution for the registration of political parties and will, among others,  help to protect political and civic space for citizens' participation in all spheres of governance. 

9.    Regarding the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements, RJMEC observes that the Permanent Ceasefire has continued to hold. However, CTSAMVM reported two violations to RJMEC and IGAD regarding detention of an SPLA-IO officer and National Salvation Front (NAS) attack on SSPDF in Central Equatoria State. Clashes between civilians were also reported in the Malakal Protection of Civilians site. 

10.   Following the Phase I graduation of 55,000 troops between August 2022 and January 2023, there has been no further progress on the unification of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF). The graduated forces are still in the Training Centres, yet to be redeployed and in dire need of logistical support. Additionally, there is no progress in Phase II of the unification of forces and the DDR process remains unfunded.  

11.   Despite the aforementioned setbacks, there has been some progress in the enforcement of accountability among the SSPDF who commit crimes against civilians. For example, the SSPDF conducted a General Court Martial (GCM) in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State, which heard 29 cases. These accountability efforts culminated in convictions for murder, rape, sexual harassment, and loss of weapons and ammunitions. 

12.   The National Police Service (NPS) and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs (MoJCA) in collaboration with the University of Juba are implementing police reform initiatives. Furthermore, the National Police Service Directorate of Community Policing, launched the Voluntary Civilian Disarmament Strategy, which aims at voluntary disarmament of communities and enhancement of their protection.

13.   On humanitarian assistance, the onset of rains and the influx of refugees and returnees from Sudan have exacerbated the already severe humanitarian needs in the country. This is compounded by the cumulative effects of prolonged intercommunal conflicts, long-term flooding and high levels of food insecurity. The disruption of trade routes between Sudan and South Sudan has also negatively affected the supply of food and other essential goods into South Sudan, resulting in scarcity and increase in prices. The overall humanitarian situation is worsened by shortage of basic services and limited funding to cover over nine million people already in need of humanitarian assistance and protection in South Sudan.

14.   The long overdue establishment of the Special Reconstruction Fund (SRF) Board remains a concern especially in view of increasing needs and dwindling funding for humanitarian support, recovery as well as the implementation of chapter III of the Agreement. The purpose of the Special Reconstruction Fund is to avail funding to support, among others, reconstruction as well as relocation, resettlement and reintegration of the IDPs and returnees. 

Rt Hon. Speaker, Honourable Members,

15.   On the management of economic and financial resources, progress has been slow in implementing the provisions aimed at improving the systems geared to the efficient management of public funds. These systems must be put in place in a timely manner to ensure that the resources, financial or natural, are beneficial to the people of South Sudan.

16.   South Sudan is experiencing challenges in land administration in defining the roles of the existing institutions at national, state and local government levels. Currently the country relies on the pre-independence 2009 Land Act, while each state has its own land policies, laws and regulations. The RTNLA is required to adopt the reviewed Land Policy which will go a long way in addressing challenges in the land sector, including land grabbing, boundary disputes, conflicts over access to pasture. Consequently, RTNLA should prioritise land related legislation to support these reform efforts. 

Rt Hon. Speaker, Honourable Members,

17.   There has been slow progress in implementing Public Financial Management reforms. It is critical that this august House expedites the enactment of the bills to support these reforms. As a result, a considerable number of provisions in this area have missed their benchmark dates as indicated in the Roadmap. There is need for transparency and accountability in order to attract international support for the execution of South Sudan’s sustainable peace and development agenda.

18.   Regarding transitional justice, the RTGoNU convened a conference under the theme Building a Sustainable Transitional Justice System for South Sudan in May 2023 in Juba. The Bills for the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing and the Compensation and Reparation Authority have been drafted and submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval before presentation to this august House for enactment.

19.   In terms of the permanent constitution-making process, a critical requirement for the conduct of elections and post-transition governance arrangements, very little progress has been made in the operationalization of the Constitution Making Process Act 2022. This august House passed this Bill and was assented to by His Excellency the President, in December 2022. The institutions required to drive the process forward, such as the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) is still not reconstituted and the Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC) and the Preparatory Sub-Committee for the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) are not yet established.

Rt Hon. Speaker, Honourable Members,

20.   In conclusion, during the period under review, very little was accomplished with regard to improving the overall pace of implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement. Overall, tasks related to the permanent constitution-making and electoral processes have stalled, and critical benchmarks outlined in the Roadmap are yet to be implemented.   

21.   In light of the aforementioned, the report makes the following recommendations:  

21.1.    To the Parties to the Agreement and Relevant Stakeholders, submit lists of their nominees to the various Constitution-making mechanisms; 

21.2.    To the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity:

a.    expeditiously reconstitute the NCRC and establish the Preparatory Sub-Committee and other relevant mechanisms for the constitution-making process to proceed;

b.    urgently expedite the establishment and operationalization of the relevant constitution-making institutions and mechanisms;

c.     complete the review of the CTRH and CRA Bills and forward them to the RTNLA for enactment;

d.    provide basic services to citizens to promote the relocation, resettlement and reintegration of IDPs and returnees; and

e.    expeditiously establish the Special Reconstruction Fund Board to pave way for the convening of the South Sudan Pledging Conference. 

21.3.    To this august House, expedite the deliberation and enactment of all the outstanding bills before you, including the National Elections, the National Security Service (NSS) and the Public Finance Management (PFM) Bills. 

22.   In conclusion, I would like to note that this month of September marks exactly one year since the endorsement of the Roadmap. More importantly, in a week’s time, on 12 September, South Sudan will be marking exactly five years from the day the Revitalised Peace Agreement was signed. It is therefore important to reflect on the road which we have traveled thus far in the implementation of the R-ARCSS. Despite this journey, several critical benchmarks remain unacomplished, including the unification of forces, the making of the permanent constitution, enactment and operationalization of legal frameworks and electoral processes in preparation for elections scheduled for December 2024. 

23.   In this regard, it is critical to underscore the need for sufficient political will, commitment of resources by the RTGoNU and for the Parties to the Agreement to build trust and confidence.  

24.   On RJMEC’s part as the oversight institution of the R-ARCSS, it shall continue to monitor, evaluate and report on the status of implementation of the R-ARCSS pursuant to its mandate, as envisaged under Chapter 7.  

I Thank You!