JMEC Interim Chairperson makes five recommendations to the IGAD Council of Ministers
JMEC Interim Chairperson Ambassador Lt. Gen. Augostino S.K. Njoroge yesterday delivered a statement at the 66th Extra-ordinary Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers on the status of the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The Council Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was attended by Foreign Ministers from the IGAD countries and many other regional and international dignitaries. Ambassador Lt. Gen. Njoroge reported to the Council that there has been significant progress in the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, and the Parties to the Agreement have participated in a series of confidence building measures. He concluded his statement by proposing five recommendations for the Council’s kind consideration:
1. First, it is critical for the Parties and stakeholders to adhere to the timely implementation of its provisions. Therefore, the Council needs to consider appealing to the responsible Parties and actors to expedite the implementation of all aspects of the Agreement;
2. Second, I appeal to the Council to urge the Parties to show their commitment to gender parity by ensuring that the required levels of women’s representation is respected. To date, the gender provision in Agreement Institutions has not been adhered to.
3. Third, considering the current resource constraints in South Sudan, I urge that this Council sustains its diplomatic engagement with the AU, the UN, international partners and Friends of South Sudan and appeal for the technical and financial support necessary for the implementation of the R-ARCSS;
4. Fourth, that this Council considers providing political guidance in the establishment of the Independent Boundaries Commission and the Technical Boundaries Committee, which have not yet been established and are running out of time;
5. Last but not least, this Council needs to prevail upon the South Sudanese stakeholders who are not signatory to the Revitalized Agreement to join in its implementation.
Ambassador Lt. Gen. Njoroge’s final observation was that “although the success of the Revitalized 2018 Peace Agreement lies with all of us, ultimately the onus of its implementation rests with the South Sudanese parties and stakeholders.”
Generally, the regional and international stakeholders present at the meeting described the prevailing situation as promising and urged the Parties to keep the momentum up.
