RJMEC commends AUC, China donation to cantonment sites
September 06,2019The National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) has on Thursday handed over the National Security Service Act 2014 (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the Political Parties Act, 2012 (Amendment) Bill 2019 in conformity with the requirements of Articles 1.18.1.3 and 1.18.1.2 of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) to the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs of the Republic of South Sudan.
The Reconstituted Joint and Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has on Tuesday welcomed the request by the Parties for a 6-month extension of the Pre-Transitional Period of the revitalized peace agreement.
As the world marks this year’s World Press Freedom Day, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has emphasized on the importance of a free and credible media in the dissemination of information on the implementation of the peace agreement in South Sudan.
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has expressed “greatest” concerns of the delayed operationalization of the cantonment sites in South Sudan.
As the end of the pre-transitional period draws near on May 12, 2019, critical tasks in the implementation of the revitalized Agreement remain pending, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has said.
Speaking during the 5th RJMEC plenary in Juba on Friday, Interim Chairperson Ambassador Lt. Gen. Augostino Njoroge said,
“Critical pending tasks include activities towards the unification of forces, which involve the process of cantonment and training, and the determination on the number and boundaries of States, and the composition and restructuring of the Council of States.”
He said “it is clear that achievements have fallen way short of what was intended for the Pre-Transitional Period.”
Additionally, Ambassador Njoroge expressed concern over continued denial of access faced by CTSAMVM’s Monitoring and Verification Teams (MVTs) in the country.
RJMEC said, “During the first quarter of this year, the number of access denials the MVTs encountered totaled to 31. Despite the resolutions of the RJMEC, it is disappointing to note that this is a persistent problem.”
“I call on the commanders in Juba to hold their field commanders to account and allow free and unfettered access,” he said.
He noted “with dismay” that findings of investigations into the November 2018 incidents of sexual and gender-based violence in Bentiu have not been made public, nor has RJMEC been given the full report of the government’s investigation and action on the Luri incident.
On the humanitarian front Ambassador Njoroge said “A critical issue to be addressed by the Political leaders of South Sudan is the living conditions of the almost 4 million refugees and internally displaced who are living in very difficult circumstances.”
“These South Sudanese citizens are eagerly waiting for the security conditions to improve so as to return to their homes. Their confidence and trust will be enhanced by the commitment of political leaders to significantly improve the security environment for their voluntary and dignified return, hopefully for a better future,” he said.
The National Constitutional Amendment Committed (NCAC) has on Wednesday convened stakeholder’s workshop aimed at validating proposed amendments to the South Sudan Political Parties Act, 2012 as well as obtain views and recommendations to support the amendment process.
The National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) has today handed over five (5) security Bills to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Paulino Wanawila.
A team led the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) led by Interim Chair H.E Amb. Lt. Gen. Augostino Njoroge has on Monday held a meeting with South Sudan President H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit.
Progress, challenges and prospects of the implementation of the revitalized agreement were discussed.
Ambassador said “There is need for an urgent meeting of the Parties at the highest political level to discuss the status of the implementation of the R-ARCSS so as to come up with an agreed roadmap on the best way forward.”
In order to continue to galvanize support from the Regional Guarantors and prepare for the Transitional Period, the Ambassador noted, there is need to “lobby the Chairperson of the IGAD Summit so that an urgent IGAD Council of Ministers meeting and Summit on South Sudan be convened in Juba.
The acting Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) Ambassador Lt. Gen. Amb. Augostino Njoroge has on Monday held a meeting with South Sudan Chief of Staff, General Gabriel Jok Riak. During the meeting, the two discussed the status of implementation of the revitalised Agreement and the time of the end of the Pre-Transitional period.
General Riak is also the chairperson of the Joint Defence Board (JDB).
"The Reconstituted JMEC welcomes the work of the JDB in beginning the process of cantonment and traning of unified forces. This is critical during this phase of the Pre-Transitional Period," said Amb. Njoroge.
Ambassador was accompanied by JMEC Chief of Staff Amb. Berhanu Kebede and his deputy for Strategy Dr. Thomson Fontaine.
The National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) has on Tuesday received submissions from representatives of twelve national political parties towards the amendment of the constitution of the Republic of South Sudan.
The committee led by Chairperson, Mr. Gichira Kibara received the written submission in the capital Juba. Mr. Kibara said the submissions will be taken into account during the ongoing deliberation by the Committee on the South Sudan Political Parties Act, 2012.
The political parties were the African National Congress, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), United South Sudan African Party (USSAP), United Democratic Salvation Front-Mainstream (UDSF-M), National Liberation Party (NLP) and National Congress Party (NCP).
Others were Democratic Change Party (DCP), South Sudan Democratic Forum (SSDF), National United Democratic Front (NUDF), United South Sudan Party, South Sudan Democratic Alliance (SSDA) and Sudan African National Union (SANU).
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has on Tuesday convened in Juba an extraordinary meeting to discuss funding and other challenges facing the implementation of the revitalized Agreement during the pre-transitional period.
