Your Excellency, Hailemariam Desalegn, Chairperson of the IGAD and Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,

Your Excellency, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda,

Your Excellency, Omar Hassan al Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan,

Your Excellency, Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya,

Your Excellency, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia,

Your Excellency, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti,

Your Excellency, General Taban Deng Gai, First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan,

Your Excellency, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission;

Your Excellency, David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in the Republic of South Sudan;

Your Excellency, Mahboub M. Maalim, Executive Secretary of IGAD,

Your Excellencies, Special Envoys,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

I welcome this very timely and important IGAD Extraordinary Summit on South Sudan. As you may recall, Your Excellencies, we are now into the 22^nd month since the signing of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (ARCSS).

1. After nearly eight months of delay, the Transitional Government of National Unity was formed on the 29^th April 2016. This means that we are now fourteen months into the Transitional Period, and have barely sixteen months left to October 2018 – the end of the Transitional Period.
2. Regrettably, the citizens of the Republic of South Sudan are yet to enjoy the peace that the implementation of the Peace Agreement was expected to deliver. In this regard, I have submitted a detailed quarterly report for the period February to April 2017, that summarizes JMEC’s assessment of the status of the implementation of the Peace Agreement. I will however recap our journey to this point, and highlight the issues that demand your attention and action.

Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen;

3. The return of the designated First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny on 26^th April 2016 and the subsequent formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) were key milestones in the implementation of the Agreement. Many of the Transitional Agreement Institutions and Implementation Mechanisms had also been established and operationalized to coordinate these efforts.
4. Unfortunately, disagreements between H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President and his then First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny and the unwillingness by the Parties to make compromises overshadowed the first few months of the TGoNU.
5. In July 2016, fighting broke out at the Presidential Palace in Juba (J1) between forces loyal to the President and those loyal to the former First Vice President.
6. The July fighting and its aftermath, which was the worst incident of violation of the permanent ceasefire, reversed the progress that had been made in the implementation of the Agreement. It led to the flight from Juba of the then First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny with many of his followers and key opposition members from the TGoNU.
7. The replacement of Dr. Machar by his former chief negotiator General Taban Deng Gai as First Vice President caused a split in the SPLM/A-IO into two factions. One faction led by General Taban Deng Gai, now cooperating with and participating in the TGoNU, and the other led by the Former First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny still fighting against the government.

Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen;

8. Following the IGAD Communique of 5^th August 2016, the reconstituted TGoNU continued with implementation of the Peace Agreement, in spite of concern over exclusion of estranged Parties. As JMEC we had hoped that the Parties would quickly resolve their differences and return to full implementation of the Peace Agreement. This has not materialized and now the Parties seem even further apart.
9. Today, we are confronted by increased hostilities amongst these Parties, flagrant violations of the ceasefire, the emergence of new opposition and armed groups. The rapidly deteriorating political, security, humanitarian and economic situation in the country has caused unprecedented displacement, famine and growing civilian flight.

Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen;

10. While I commend the very good working relationship between H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President and H.E. General Taban Deng Gai, the First Vice President and their determination to cooperate; real progress is still lacking, the pace of the implementation of the Peace Agreement has been too slow, and challenges abound.
11. Admittedly, over the last several months, JMEC has witnessed some commendable progress in institution building and some reforms:
    1. Some Agreement Institutions and Transitional Security Arrangements (TSA) mechanisms have been reconstituted and others operationalized;
    2. The National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) has completed incorporation of provisions of the Peace Agreement into the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan and has embarked on the review of relevant legislation;
    3. The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) has been formed and has commenced business;
    4. The TGoNU has established a High Level Humanitarian Oversight Committee to address impediments faced by humanitarian agencies in delivering assistance. It has also provided subsidies for essential food commodities;
    5. The TGoNU has also put in place some measures to stabilize the economy and address the fiscal challenges facing the country, including the establishment of a centralised treasury account in the Central Bank, expenditure out of which is determined by an inter-ministerial committee.
    6. There has been some progress towards cantonment planning, particularly for two sites near Juba. However, effective cantonment of forces requires a cessation of hostilities and restoration of the permanent ceasefire;
    7. The TGoNU has reported that some components of the Joint Integrated Police (JIP) have been trained and are ready for deployment in due course; and
    8. Six JMEC Working Committees have been established to work in close consultation with the three TGoNU clusters – Governance, Humanitarian and Service Delivery – to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the various chapters of the Peace Agreement.

Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen;

12. It is regrettable that the progress I have mentioned, and good efforts of the TGoNU continue to be overshadowed, and in some cases reversed by the ongoing hostilities.
13. The humanitarian condition in the country continues to be precarious, mainly due to the persistence of armed violence in various parts of the country.
14. The impact of the war on the civilian population is deeply concerning. Notably, the economic situation continues to worsen as evidenced by rising prices and a sharply depreciated exchange rate. Food production has declined as population displacement persists, putting more pressure on an already fragile economy.
15. According to the UN OCHA Humanitarian Bulletin Report of 28 May 2017, 3.7 million South Sudanese have been driven from their homes. Some live in Protection of Civilian sites (PoCs), others are internally displaced, and many more in refugee settlements in neighboring countries. According to the same report, a total of 5.5 million people are food insecure.
16. In addition, there are continuing reports of human rights violations including killings, sexual violence, arbitrary arrests and detentions.
17. Despite the recent improvements in access to humanitarian assistance, there are still reports of threats and detention of humanitarian aid workers.
18. I therefore welcome the recent decision by the governments of the Republic of Sudan and of the Republic of Kenya to open more humanitarian corridors to deliver much-needed aid to the long-suffering people of South Sudan.

Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen;

19. As the main guarantors to the Peace Agreement, Your Excellencies, IGAD should act collectively and decisively, speak with one voice and demand that the leaders of South Sudan end the violence, and pursue a political solution and return to full implementation of the Peace Agreement.
20. I therefore expect the Summit to address the following pertinent issues:
    1. Decide on concrete steps to revitalize implementation of the Peace Agreement;
    2. Commit to concrete measures to enforce compliance with the ceasefire; and
    3. Decide on practical ways of addressing the dire humanitarian crisis in the country.

Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen;

21. I recommend the following actions to the Summit:
    1. convene a High Level Revitalisation Forum for the Parties to the Peace Agreement, including estranged groups, to discuss the restoration of the permanent ceasefire, a return to inclusive implementation, a revised realistic timeline and implementation schedule towards democratic elections at the end of the Transitional Period;
    2. prior to this High Level Forum, invite other key opposition groups to participate without pre-conditions;
    3. demand a clear and realistic timeline for the deployment of the Regional Protection Force (RPF) to provide a neutral and secure enviroment for the implementation of the Peace Agreement;
    4. convene a joint meeting of the Chiefs of Defence Forces of the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) and of the TGoNU, and the UN to discuss all outstanding issues and determine a definitive timeline for full deployment of the RPF;
    5. decide on specific actions to enforce compliance with the ceasefire to prevent impunity and derailing of the peace process;
    6. call on the international community to assist South Sudan in its efforts to revive the economy once the Parties return to the full implementation of the Peace Agreement;
    7. call on the international community to mobilize the requisite resources to address the dire humanitarian situation currently unfolding in South Sudan;
    8. call on the TGoNU and all groups to ensure unimpeded access to humanitarian agencies; and
    9. Above all, uphold the One Voice message and align your actions in your collective pursuit of helping the people of South Sudan achieve lasting peace.

I thank you.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

1. I welcome you all to our May Plenary. Last week marked a historic moment in the birth of this young nation – the 34^th anniversary of the launch of the South Sudan’s People’s Liberation Movement. I congratulate all the leaders and people of South Sudan on this important milestone.
2. The theme for this anniversary is very important and timely. “Let us dialogue to forgive one another for sustainable reconciliation, peace and development.” It is a matter of deep regret, however, that, after a successful liberation struggle, this historic liberation movement now finds itself embroiled in fighting among former comrades.
3. I want to appeal to all the sons and daughters of this land, to use this 34^th anniversary to summon the spirit of comradeship that won their liberation to heal the bitter divide between SPLM factions which are now engaged in such unfortunate and destructive conflict.
4. For peace and stability to endure in this country, and for the fruits of the liberation to translate into reality, we need a strong, united peaceful and democratic South Sudan.
5. I therefore welcome H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit’s call for nationalism and patriotism on this day, and I want to appeal to the government and all the parties in opposition to honor the sacrifices that have been borne by all South Sudanese by making peace, not waging more war.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

6. The official launch of the National Dialogue this week is therefore very timely and a welcome development. I am encouraged by the declaration that the National Dialogue will be inclusive, transparent and conducted with integrity.
7. The National Dialogue does not replace the implementation of the Peace Agreement; it is complementary. Let us all give peace and dialogue a chance in order to create a conducive environment for the full implementation of the Agreement.
8. I commend the President for declaring a unilateral ceasefire and for recommending the release of political detainees. I urge all those in Opposition to follow suit immediately.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

9. We are now into the eighteenth month of the the implementation of the ARCSS and since this Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission was formed, and thirteen months into the Transition Period following the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) on April 29, 2016. This means, we have barely seventeen months left to October 2018 and the end of the Transitional Period.
10. Some of the JMEC Working Committees have now held their second or third meetings since our last Plenary, and they have developed and adopted a roburst framework for evaluating progress for each chapter of the Agreement.
11. I am encouraged by the real commitment and determination of all the Working Committees to undertake their tasks. I am confident that the work of these Committees will constitute an important and integral part of JMEC’s assessment, reporting and recommendations in the months ahead.
12. I must also appreciate the commitment and determination shown by members of JMEC. Even the modest progress we have made so far would not have been possible without your concerted efforts and sustained contributions.
13. However, time is catching up with the implementation of the Agreement. Our pace is far too slow and the situation is not getting any better. We need to ask more questions and demand more concrete steps from the TGoNU to expedite the implementation of the Agreement.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

14. Since the last Plenary, more fighting has been reported between the SPLA-IG and SPLA-IO (Machar) in Tonga, Kodok, and Aburoc in Upper Nile and very recently in Wau and Waat. Ambushes and attacks against civilians took place on Juba-Bor road and in Parajok.
15. JMEC condemns this senseless continuation of violence and the resulting loss of civilian life and urges CTSAMM to quickly verify and report the parties responsible.
16. These ongoing violations of the permanent ceasefire by the SPLA-IG and SPLA-IO MUST stop, and I expect the JMCC to make substantial recommendations to help the TGoNU and JMEC to achieve this outcome. The other armed groups contributing to these violence MUST also stop and pursue a peaceful path towards engagement in the peace process.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

17. I remain deeply concerned by the continuous deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country. The ongoing hostilities exacerbate the challenges and create even more humanitarian needs.
18. The renewed violence reported in Yuai, Waat, Tonga and Kodok areas reportedly displaced between 50,000 and 100,000 people, of which at least 25,000 people fled to Aburoc and Sudan.
19. According to the UN OCHA Humanitarian Bulletin of May 9^th, 2017, the number of South Sudanese refugees in the neighbouring countries continues to grow and has reached 1.8 million, while the number of internally displaced persons now stands at about 2 million.
20. These figures are staggering and continue to illustrate the scale of the impact of the ongoing conflict. Civilians are routinely and forcefully removed from their villages by the conflict and have their lives uprooted and livelihoods dismantled.
21. Yet humanitarian access remains a constant challenge. For example, it is regrettable that the recent conflicts in Waat and Walgak in Jonglei state resulted in the relocation of the humanitarian aid workers from the area. The violence that caused this cannot by any stretch of imagination be said to be defensive.
22. More South Sudanese continue to flee violence and face a growing reality of hunger, all the while wondering if they will ever see the peace dividend that implementation of the Agreement is expected to deliver.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

23. The prospect of famine spreading to other parts of the country is also increasing. When famine was first declared, it was in the two counties of Leer and Mayendit. But now Koch, a third county, is also reported to be on the verge of famine. These are clear warnings that if the fighting does not stop, the number of food insecure people in South Sudan could rise for months particularly during the raining season.
24. While I extol the efforts of the region, international community and friends of South Sudan in their response to address the humanitarian catastrophe, I continue to appeal for more good will and urgent action. The South Sudan 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan projected that at least 1.6 billion US Dollars would be required for humanitarian response in the country, but only 27 per cent of the required funding has been received so far – leaving a funding shortfall of about USD 1.2 billion.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

25. As I promised in my last address to this Plenary, I have continued with my diplomatic engagments in the region, specifically in line with our One Voice initiative, and I consulted with regional leaders and some South Sudanese stakeholders in the pursuit of peace.
26. I held consultations with the IGAD Chairperson H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and the AU Commission Chairperson, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, and briefed them on the deliberations we had here in Juba and the situation in the country.
27. I also met with H.E. Omar al-Bashir, President of Sudan, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda, and H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya. The purpose of my diplomatic mission within the region was to identify a path out of the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis.
28. I appealed for us all to adopt “one voice” in our engagment with the leaders of South Sudan, and the need for the regional leaders to align their messages and actions to prevent the situation in South Sudan from further deterioration.
29. The regional leaders expressed their grave concern with the recent escalation of violence, the ongoing violation of the permanent ceasefire and the worsening humanitarian situation in the country. They emphasised that the conflict in this country requires a political, not military solution and they demanded wider inclusivity of and dialogue amongst the belligerents.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

30. I also had the opportunity to meet with some of the key South Sudanese stakeholders currently in opposition. I met with Madam Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, former detainees Pagan Amum, Kosti Manibe, Dr. Majak and Dr. Cirino Hiteng, and also with Dr. Lam Akol, Thomas Cirillo, James Oryema and others in order to listen to their grievances.
31. My message to all of them was that those who are still fighting should stop immediately for the sake of this country that they say they love so much, and that all serious parties should pursue a political path to return to the Peace Process.
32. In principle they welcomed my message. They demanded a negotiated ceasefire and expressed their willingness to participate in a credible political process outside South Sudan that might lead to their return to the implementation of the Peace Agreement. In this regard they underlined the importance of the deployment of the Regional Protection Force.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

33. JMEC welcomes the recent progress made by the National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) in incorporating the ARCSS into the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan (2011), and for embarking on the relevant legislative review and amendments process.
34. However, it is regrettable that the TGoNU has delayed the submission of this Amendment Bill to the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and missed the deadline prescribed by the Agreement.
35. I urge the TGoNU to expedite this constitutional amendment process and also to immediately initiate a Permanent Constitution making process.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

36. The economic crisis continues, driven by declining oil production, low oil prices and decline in food production. The South Sudanese Pound (SSP) continues to depreciate and inflation remains high. However the economic measures implemented by the TGoNU to enhance economic stability have had some success.
37. There has been a substantial decline in the budget deficit and a marked decline in the inflation rate from 550 percent per annum in September 2016 to 273 percent per annum in April 2017. More recently, after reaching a peak of 200 SSP/USD in April 2017, the exchange rate fell to a range of 140-160 SSP/USD in mid-May.
38. If the authorities continue to pursue tighter fiscal and monetary policies, inflation and exchange rate depreciation can be expected to moderate further thus contributing to an improvement in the overall economic stability.
39. The country will continue to face a difficult budget situation over the medium term as, given the low oil prices and production trends, net oil revenue cannot be expected to increase significantly anytime soon. New domestically financed spending for development and other services will require reallocation within the present budget envelope.
40. Even amidst these economic challenges and budgetary constraints, an end to the hostilities will bring about a tangible peace dividend and ease some economic burdens for the people of South Sudan. The present threats to their lives and property will recede, and people will be able to return home, rebuild their lives and resume productive livelihoods.
41. Specifically, the return of farmers to their land will increase food supplies in the markets and lower prices. Safer transport routes and more stable economic conditions will add marketable goods and stimulate economic activity.
42. Ultimately, implementing broad and sustained development initiatives in South Sudan will require peace, but robust planning for post-conflict development programmes should start immediately. I urge the TGoNU to continue with its reforms and put in place a framework that will ensure the best use of its available resources.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

43. I therefore recommend that JMEC must continue to demand:
    1. full commitment by all parties to the restoration and implementation of the permanent ceasefire;
    2. total cessation of violence around the country and a commitment to pursue a political path to reconciling their differences;
    3. deployment of the Regional Protection Force to build confidence and encourage a return to inclusive implementation of the Peace Agreement;
    4. full and credible inclusion of all parties and stakeholders in the National Dialogue and implementation of the Peace Agreement;
    5. immediate initiation of the Permanent Constitution making process and a clear timeline to the end of the Transition Period;
    6. continued implementation of Chapter II Transitional Security Arrangements and cantonment activities; and allow unhindered and unfettered access to CTSAMM, and
    7. ABOVE ALL an immediate and sustained improvement of the conditions for delivery of humanitarian assistance; and
    8. the fast-tracking of the Amendment Bill incorporating the ARCSS into the Transitional Constitution and continued support to the NCAC to review and amend the necessary legislation within their mandate.
       1. reiterate our appeal to the IGAD leaders to speak with one voice, and align the messages and actions to South Sudanese leaders.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

44. In conclusion, I expect this Plenary to:
    1. receive a briefing from the TGoNU on recent progress made in implementing the Peace Agreement;
    2. receive an update from TGoNU and UNMISS on the current humanitarian situation, in particular on steps taken to facilitate unfettered humanitarian access;
    3. receive summary reports on the status of the various boards and commissions of the Peace Agreement and the progress towards their objectives; and,
    4. welcome the progress that is being made by the various JMEC Working Committees and commend the Chairpersons and members for their commitment and contributions.
45. At the end of this Plenary, I shall invite a brief presentation from the JMEC Civil Society representative.
46. Finally, I take this opportunity to thank all our partners in TGoNU, the other South Sudanese stakeholders, IGAD, AU, Troika, EU, China, the UN, UNMISS, and the International Partners and Friends of South Sudan for their commitment and continued support to JMEC and the peace process in South Sudan.
47. May God bless us all and continue to guide us in the relentless pursuit of peace. Thank you.

Honorable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

1. I believe that we have had a productive JMEC Plenary today.
2. I thank the representatives of TGoNU for presenting a summary report on the progress the Government has made so far, as well as its stated continued commitment to the implementation of the Agreement, including measures it is undertaking to address the current economic challenges facing the country.
3. I must also thank the United Nations for providing a humanitarian update, and the various Boards and Institutions for their reports. To all those who made valuable and constructive contributions today, I say thank you.
4. From our discussions today, it is clear that the humanitarian situation, and with it the complete cessation of violence, remains the most critical challenge facing the people of South Sudan. Whilst concerted efforts are being made to respond to the overwhelming humanitarian needs, many challenges remain that hinder the timely and effective provision of humanitarian relief, particularly at the local level. I welcome the call for enhanced coordination of efforts of all stakeholders and I hope that this can be expedited immediately.
5. You will forgive me if I reiterate the key message that summarizes our collective approach. It is clear, I am afraid, that little has changed since we last met – we must continue the search for the means to end the violence and stop the fighting; we must continue to coordinate our efforts to end the crisis of hunger; and we must increase our efforts to engage all parties and communities in South Sudan and establish an inclusive National Dialogue.
6. I cannot emphasize enough, the need for:
   1. the concerted effort by all leaders, civilian and military, inside and outside South Sudan, to assert control over those loyal to you and bring violence and conflict to an immediate end;
   2. a willingness by all to find a comprehensive and inclusive political resolution to the conflict in South Sudan;
   3. a total commitment by all parties to the conflict to guarantee and facilitate access for humanitarian support, and to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations including violence against aid workers;

I thank you.

President of the Security Council;

Secretary General;

1. I would like to thank the President of the Security Council, the British Foreign Secretary, Right Honorable Boris Johnson, for his kind invitation to brief you all today. I would also like to thank the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, for his accurate and detailed description of the current situation in South Sudan.

2. I do not intend to cover the same ground within what little time we have. Suffice to say that, in the eight months since the outbreak of violence last July, the security, economic and humanitarian situation in South Sudan has steadily deteriorated to an unacceptable level.

3. The Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism now report deliberate, planned conflict between the main Parties to the Agreement. The SPLA-IG and the SPLA-IO loyal to Dr. Riek Machar, as well as other emerging armed groups, engage in the destruction of lives and communities in total violation of the ceasefire.

4. Across the board, there is a heightened sense of alarm over the fact that the situation is slipping out of control. It is time now for the international community to condemn in the strongest terms the violence, the killings, the human rights abuses and the destruction of homes. We must now stand together to do something about it.

Mr President,

5. Whether by design or default, a war is being waged around South Sudan and I wish to spell out the three defining questions that we all face right now.

6. How do we stop the fighting? How do we stop innocent people dying of starvation? And how do we ensure that the interests and concerns of all South Sudanese communities are fully represented and considered? Peace, relief and inclusivity.

7. These three issues are wholly interconnected. The humanitarian crisis, now officially a famine, is the direct result of insecurity and armed violence perpetrated by all Parties to the Agreement.

8. This insecurity and armed violence is a direct result of the perception and reality of political exclusion from the peace process.

9. And therefore, only when all the people and communities of South Sudan see that their interests and concerns are being addressed, can peace return to this country, and the people return to normal life.

10. There can never be a military solution in South Sudan; nor can a military or political regime be imposed upon any one side by any other. To find a genuine and durable political solution, the South Sudanese leadership must be willing to listen, accommodate and compromise.

11. In the interim, we must urgently look again at all possible practical measures that we can take to alleviate the desperate suffering that millions of people are facing every day. Women especially have suffered the greatest injustices and born the greatest burden of conflict, and all Parties to the Agreement are failing in their basic duty to protect the South Sudanese people.

Mr President,

12. The international community must acknoweldge that since the events of July 2016, a split in the SPLM/IO has resulted in two clear opposition factions: one loyal to Dr. Riek Machar which is still fighting and has been excluded from all Agreement Institutions, and the other loyal to General Taban Deng Gai, who are cooperating with the Government.

13. I have had important discussions with the President of South Sudan primarily focused on the National Dialogue initiative, and the need for it to be genuinely and sincerely inclusive, not simply a discussion with those who agree with the Government.

14. I reiterate my view that the National Dialogue must be authentic, autonomous and impartially-led for it to be credible and deliver a reliable representation of all views and concerns. A National Dialogue conducted in this fashion would contribute to the pursuit of the peace process in the spirit of the Agreement.

Mr President,

15. I remain of the firm conviction that the Peace Agreement remains the only viable framework through which to recover the peace process, drive inclusive engagment and re-establish momentum. However hard it may be, I urge all Parties, Guarantors and Partners to continue to support the Peace Agreement and the implementation of its provisions.

16. With regard to the implementation of the Agreement, I can report only modest progress:

1. The National Constitution Amendment Committee started slowly but is now on course to complete the review of the Constitution before the end of this month.

1. CTSAMM is monitoring and investigating violations of the ceasefire but is regularly denied freedom of movement by all armed groups.

1. The Joint Military Ceasefire Commission, the Joint Integrated Police and the Strategic Defence and Security Review Board continue to develop their plans very slowly but, as stated earlier, to the exclusion of the SPLM/IO (Machar).

1. I have called upon the TGoNU to demonstrate commitment to these Agreement Institutions by providing the required resources and facilities and accelerating delivery. I encourage the regional and international partners to support them.

1. Beyond the establishment of the Technical Committee for the National Consultative Process for the establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTHR), there has been no further progress on establishing Chapter Five mechanisms and institutions. I have yet to hear from the African Union Commission on the establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan.

1. These are matters of great concern. Given the escalation of the conflict, progress towards Chapter Five mechanisms is needed now more than ever before and I appeal to all Parties to move with haste to enable their swift establishment.

Mr President,

17. Finally, my recommendation is that we, the international community, must:

1. demand peace and the total cessation of violence around the country with one voice;
2. activate the immediate deployment of the Regional Protection Force and support the implementation of Chapter II Transitional Security Arrangements;
3. demand the full and credible inclusion of all Parties and stakeholders in the peace process;
4. constantly encourage the TGoNU to conduct a genuinely inclusive and impartial National Dialogue;
5. endeavour to achieve an immediate improvement of the conditions for the delivery of humanitarian assistance; and
6. ensure a renewed effort to create the Hybrid Court for South Sudan and thereby establish the mechanism for the prosecution of those who perpetrate atrocities and human rights abuses.

18. In conclusion, therefore, and in the face of an ever-worsening situation, I believe that only a resolute and unified approach by IGAD, the African Union, United Nations and the international community as a whole can restore hope to the people of South Sudan.

19. Thank you, Mr President.

The Chairman of the AU Peace and Security Council, Ambassador Ndumiso Ntshinga, The African Union High Representative for South Sudan, President Alpha Konare; Commissioner for Peace and Security, Smail Chegui
, Your Excellencies Permanent Representatives;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

1. Thank you for your kind invitation to brief you all today.
2. I submitted my quarterly report to the African Union Peace and Security Council last month, covering the period November 2016 to February 2017. I hope that you have received it and had a chance to review my findings.
3. In the eight months since the outbreak of violence last July, the situation in South Sudan has steadily deteriorated to an unacceptable level.
4. CTSAMM, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism, now report deliberate, planned conflict between the main Parties to the Agreement. The UN’s leading relief agencies have also declared a famine in specific localised areas.
5. Two days ago, I chaired the March JMEC Plenary in Juba and I can report that there was a heightened sense of alarm expressed over the fact that the security, economic and humanitarian situation are slipping out of control. It is time now to stand together to do something about it.
6. Let me first very quickly summarise the situation as we find it, and then I shall address the defining questions that we face.

Chairman, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

7. Sadly repeated calls for peace have gone unheeded. CTSAMM have given us their strongest report on record, stating, and I quote, “the security situation is rapidly deteriorating. We are observing well planned and deliberate fighting in Greater Upper Nile and the Equatoria regions. Violations indicate a gross disregard for the Permanent Ceasefire and recent reports suggest that fighting is likely to continue.”
8. We were also disappointed to learn that CTSAMM teams continue to be routinely denied access to investigate violations by both Government and Opposition forces. In Malakal the team was denied freedom of movement by the SPLA-IG on several occasions as they tried to investigate the fighting that took place in Wau Shilluk.
9. In January a member of the CTSAMM monitoring and verification team in Wau was killed, reportedly by SPLA-IO (Machar).
10. Whilst we try to encourage implementation of the Peace Agreement, the SPLA-IG and the SPLA-IO loyal to Dr. Machar, and other armed groups, wage relentless war and engage in the destruction of lives, homes and communities in total violation of the ceasefire agreement.
11. This conflict is not acceptable and I strongly condemn the violence, the killings, the human rights abuses, the destruction of homes and the interference in the CTSAMM operation by all armed groups around the country. Those responsible must be held accountable for the continuous suffering of innocent civilians.

Chairman, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

12. On 20th February, UN Agencies WFP, UNICEF and FAO declared a localised famine affecting about 100,000 people in northern Unity State. An additional one million are on the brink of famine in several other parts of the country.
13. A formal famine declaration means that people have already started to die from starvation. This famine, however, has nothing to do with failing rains, drought or infertile soil. It is entirely the product of violence & insecurity. When people are driven from the land in fear of their lives, production stops, food becomes scarce and people starve.
14. Every single act of violence results in ever growing numbers of refugees or IDP’s and this is deeply regretable. I find continuous reports of the denial of access for critical humanitarian aid, predominantly by the government, to be deplorable. All Parties to the Agreement must take responsibility for the protection of the South Sudanese people.
15. In the interim, we must urgently look again at all possible practical measures that we can take to alleviate the desperate suffering that millions of people are facing every day.
16. The economic crisis is deepening further. Increased insecurity in rural areas has contributed to a significant reduction in agricultural production and has also negatively impacted oil production. Together with low oil prices, these developments have caused a dramatic decline in revenues and living standards across the country.
17. The Transitional Government of National Unity has from 1st March announced an increase in work permit fees from $100 up to between $1,000 and $10,000. Such measures will affect both the public and private sectors in South Sudan by impairing future economic growth and development through a reduction in the transfer of skills and lowering foreign direct investment.
18. Increased fees levied on foreign humanitarian workers will further hinder the humanitarian relief effort in a manner that is inconsistent with the spirit of Chapter III of the Agreement. I have appealed to TGoNU to reconsider these measures.

Chairman, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

19. With regard to the implementation of the Agreement, I can report the following:
20. It should be noted that since the events of July 2016, a split in the SPLM/IO has resulted in two factions appearing: one loyal to Dr. Riek Machar, currently in exile in South Africa, which is still fighting and has been excluded from all Agreement Institutions, and the other loyal to General Taban Deng Gai, now First Vice President, who are cooperating with the Government.
21. The National Constitution Amendment Committee has held two meetings during which all the amendments to the Constitution to incorporate the Agreement have been discussed. NCAC has also met both the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs and the Minister for Cabinet Affairs and briefed them on progress. Both Ministers have affirmed the government’s commitment to the implementation of the agreement and pledged to support the work of NCAC. The Committee is working hard to complete the review of the Constitution before the end of the month.
22. We have formally submitted CTSAMM Board-certified ceasefire violation reports, including attribution, to the TGoNU and requested that both SPLA-IG and SPLA-IO advise JMEC on the actions taken regarding the reported violations.
23. The Joint Military Ceasefire Commission has continued to develop plans for cantonment. I am aware of the challenges that the JMCC is facing, predominantly in resourcing, but I hope that it will explore every option to deliver a practical and realistic solution and that a pilot programme will commence soon.
24. The Joint Integrated Police have developed a full Action Plan for 2017 and remains ready to engage training for over 1,000 police at Rajaf Training Centre. However, delays in the vetting and registration process and in resource allocation are stalling progress and I have urged the TGoNU to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.
25. The Strategic Defence and Security Review Board Chairperson and his team continue to work towards completing the Strategic Defence Review and have been working with partners on developing an initiative that will set a number of key parameters, such as armed group integration, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), and the right-sizing of security forces.
26. I have called upon the TGoNU to demonstrate commitment to these Agreement institutions by providing resources and facilities required to successfully achieve objectives; and I encourage the regional and international partners to support them.
27. Chapter Four of the Peace Agreement underlines the need for economic stability. Data for government spending for the first half of 2016/17 shows that, despite overspending on some areas, the Government is close to meeting its goals on the implementation of its ambitious stabilization plan.
28. Beyond the establishment in December 2016 of the Technical Committee for the National Consultative Process for the Establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTHR), there has been no further progress on establishing Chapter Five mechanisms and institutions. I have yet to hear from the African Union Commission on the establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan.
29. These are matters of great concern. Given the escalation of the conflict, progress towards Chapter Five mechanisms is needed now more than ever before and I appeal to all parties to move with haste to enable their swift establishment. There must be accountability for the atrocities that are being committed daily across South Sudan.

Chairman, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

20. Whether by design or default, a war is being waged around South Sudan and the security and humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. And so I wish to spell out the three defining questions that we all face together right now.
21. How do we stop the fighting? How do we stop innocent people dying of starvation? And how do we ensure that the interests and concerns of all South Sudanese communities are fully represented and considered? Peace, relief and inclusivity.
22. These three issues are wholly interconnected. The humanitarian crisis, now officially a famine, is the direct result of insecurity and armed violence perpetrated by all parties to the Agreement.
23. This insecurity and armed violence is a direct result of the perception and reality of political exclusion from the peace process.
24. And therefore, only when all the people and communities of South Sudan see that their interests and concerns are being represented, can peace return to this country, and the people return to normal life.
25. There can never be a military solution in South Sudan. To find a sustainable political solution, we must be willing to listen to all views, accommodate all constituencies and compromise.
26. Equally, a political solution cannot be imposed upon any one side by any other. We must be willing to find the appropriate solution that answers the interests of all.
27. I have met with the President of South Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, twice in the past two weeks and had important discussions primarily focused on the principles of inclusivity and the National Dialogue initiative, which has the potential to address national grievances if it is genuinely and sincerely inclusive.
28. I have reiterated my view that the National Dialogue must hear and address the views of all communities in South Sudan, not simply those who agree with the Government. The National Dialogue must be authentic, autonomous and impartially-led for it to be credible and deliver a reliable representation of all views and concerns.
29. A National Dialogue conducted in this fashion would be a true vehicle for the full implementation of the Peace Agreement.

Chairman, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

30. To enhance its effectiveness, JMEC has established Working Committees, as permitted by the provisions of Chapter Seven of the Agreement.
31. This initiative is about utilising the full capacity and potential of JMEC and taking a collaborative approach to enhancing our oversight role, and maximising our collective ability to assess, evaluate, and support the implementation of the Agreement.

Chairman, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

32. And so finally, my recommendation is that we must continue to demand:
33. the total cessation of violence around the country and the immediate deployment of the Regional Protection Force;
34. the full and credible inclusion of all Parties and stakeholders in the political process;
35. the constant encouragement to the TGoNU to ensure a genuinely inclusive National Dialogue that involves all the estranged parties to the Agreement, other armed groups, communities, civil society and women’s groups;
36. the continued support to the NCAC to conclude their work as quickly as possible;
37. continued implementation of Chapter II Transitional Security Arrangements and cantonment activities;
38. a dramatic and immediate improvement of the conditions for delivery of humanitarian assistance and the establishment of the Special Reconstruction Fund (SRF);
39. and a renewed effort to establish the Hybrid Court for South Sudan.
40. In conclusion, therefore, and in the face of an ever-worsening situation, I believe that a resolute and unified approach by IGAD, by the African Union and by the international community can recover lost ground and I hope that we will continue to work together and play our parts in restoring hope to the people of South Sudan.
41. May God bless us all and continue to guide us in the relentless pursuit of peace.