Following the reconstitution of JMEC in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last month, it was commendable that Juba was the venue for this Plenary. 

Interim Chairperson Lt. Gen Ambassador Njoroge welcomed the Plenary participants, telling them that “ending the suffering of the people of South Sudan is not a soundbite to be repeated endlessly – it is the most legitimate goal we aspire to.”  (Read the full statement here: https://jmecsouthsudan.org/index.php/jmec-statements/item/398-statement-by-h-e-lt-gen-augostino-s-k-njoroge-interim-chairperson-of-the-reconstituted-joint-monitoring-evaluation-commission-to-the-2nd-rjmec-plenary-wednesday-12-december-2018-juba-south-sudan 

The general progress and momentum of the implementation of the Peace Agreement was appreciated throughout the day. The role of the National Pre–Transitional Committee (NPTC) was emphasized, with the Interim Chairperson describing it as “an institution from which much is expected and will require our collective support.” 

There was also commendable progress reported on the establishment or reconstitution of all the transitional security arrangement mechanisms, which met for the first time in Khartoum at the end of November to take the initial steps of their work. 

Interim Chairperson Njoroge added: “I cannot stress enough the importance of these security institutions, especially the Joint Defence Board (JDB). While meeting within the confines of Juba or another regional capital is one thing, the complete silencing of guns throughout the entire country is needed for us to be able to talk of sustainable peace.”  

The Interim Chairman closed his statement with his hopes and expectations for the coming period. He said: “The establishment and operationalization of the different agreement institutions and mechanisms should be expedited and completed without delay. I expect that we will commence the New Year at full capacity and use every single day to compensate for lost time.” 

It is also the hope of the Interim Chairperson that the cases of alleged rape in Benitu are investigated by the government and CTSAMVM and that the perpetrators are brought to swift justice. 

In his final remark in his statement, the Interim Chairperson appealed to the participants. “Christmas is a season for goodwill, and I call upon all Parties to continue reaching out to one another, engage in more confidence building measures, and I also appeal for any prisoners of war and political detainees not yet released to be freed.”