In his address to the meeting, RJMEC Chairperson, Ambassador Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai said: 

“With barely five months left before elections as scheduled in the Roadmap, the lack of adequate elections preparedness and the lack of progress in the unification of forces is causing anxiety among the population of South Sudan.”

The RJMEC Chairperson continued: “It is important, therefore, that the Principals of the Parties to the Agreement meet, consider the report of the High Level Standing Committee, and provide clarity on the way forward.”

As such, the RJMEC Chairperson welcomed the report from the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Hon. Dr Martin Elia Lomuro, that the Presidency is expected to meet on Wednesday 14 August, to deliberate on the way forward. 

While providing updates on the status of implementation of the Revitilised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the Chairperson noted that  the Permanent Ceasefire continues to hold.

“However, sporadic episodes of intercommunal violence, such as in Unity, Jonglei, and Lakes State, continue to be concerning,” he said, which is compounded by some security-related incidents in Juba.

The RJMEC Chairperson then drew the attention of RJMEC members to the lack of sufficient funding for the full deployment of the graduated forces, and the commencement of Phase II training for the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF).

“As troops wait in Training Centres and Cantonment Sites, they lack food, medicines, shelter and clean water. As a result, most troops have left their bases in search of food and other necessities. Also pending is the finalisation of the unification of the middle command echelon of the NUF.”

Amb. Gituai called on the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) to provide the Agreement institutions and mechanisms with the requisite resources and logistics to enable them to discharge their mandates, including completion of the redeployment of the unified forces.

In his address, the Chairperson also encouraged the Parties to the Agreement to pay due consideration to the 35% minimum threshold of women’s representation in the executive and other decision-making bodies as stipulated in the Revitalised Agreement.