Communication Office

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Friday, 11 March 2022, Juba, South Sudan

RJMEC URGES RTGONU TO IMPLEMENT TRANSITIONAL SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS FULLY TO HELP RESOLUTION OF STATE AND COUNTY LEVEL VIOLENCE

RJMEC welcomes the appointment by H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, of a high-level committee, headed by Vice President H.E. Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, to investigate the clashes between communities in Twic County and the Ngok from Abyei. All measures to support the peaceful resolution of disputes is welcome, and should be replicated across those numerous areas of South Sudan which need it.   

Recent reports from CTSAMVM, the ceasefire monitors, indicate a range of localised incidents of violence in different parts of the country which are a serious cause of concern for the overall implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and enjoyment of its dividends at the community level. This overall picture of insecurity has a negative impact on the gains made so far in the implementation of the Peace Agreement at this critical time when every little bit of progress should be built upon. 

This state of affairs is exacerbated by the delayed implementation of the Transitional Security Arrangements as set out in the R-ARCSS, growing military defections from one signatory party to another, and poorly-resourced structures of governance at the State and local levels.  This localised violence not only complicates implementation of the Transitional Security Arrangements, but also increases the number of displaced people, strains the already scarce humanitarian support, and further impacts on humanitarian access.

On 22 February 2022, two Medecins Sans Frontieres vehicles were looted and burnt 8kms outside of Yei, Central Equatoria State. Fortunately, none of the staff were harmed during the incident. This attack on humanitarian aid workers and the delivery of humanitarian services deprives the civilian population of much-need care and assistance.  

These state and county level insecurities could be resolved more effectively if the Transitional Security Arrangements, already much delayed, were completed at this time of the Agreement period. Consequently, RJMEC urges the RTGoNU to complete the implementation of the Transitional Security Arrangements and joins other voices in urging the RTGoNU to conduct timely and transparent investigations of the perpetrators of violence at the communal level, engage local authorities in dialogue, utilise local peace building mechanisms and hold accountable those perpetrators found to be guilty.

As the RTGoNU develops its roadmap to the end of the Transitional Period, it should include a robust strategy for dealing with such growing localised conflicts in order to create a conducive environment for implementation of the critical pending tasks such as the making of the permanent constitution and the eventual conduct of elections at the end of the Transitional Period. 

ENDS