Communication Office

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Thursday, 21 July, 2022, Juba, South Sudan

THE R-ARCSS IMPLEMENTATION AT CRITICAL MOMENT WITH SEVEN MONTHS TO THE END OF THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has on Thursday July 21, 2022 held its 23rd monthly plenary meeting in Juba.

Speaking during the opening of the meeting, RJMEC Interim Chairperson H.E. Amb. Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai said with seven months to the end of the Transitional Period in February 2023, “all critical tasks, including the constitution making process should have been completed and preparation for the conduct of elections should have been in high gear.”

“However, this is not the case. Critical tasks, including some pre-transitional tasks, like the unification of forces, are still pending.”

However, Amb. Gituai said, a draft roadmap presented to the President on Friday 15th July 2022 “is a welcome development.”

“I understand that this draft will be discussed by the Presidency before being tabled to the Parties for consideration. Once adopted by the RTGoNU it will be presented to RJMEC,” he said.

A detailed roadmap is expected to ensure implementation of the remaining tasks, to facilitate a peaceful, free, fair and credible elections at the end of the transition period. 

Further, Amb. Gituai acknowledged that since the unification of the command structure (in April), there has been a reduction in clashes between South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF)-allied elements and the SPLA-IO. 

However, he said, “Despite the April agreement on a unified command structure, progress towards the graduation of the unified forces has stalled.”

“Nonetheless, I am encouraged by the recent statement of H.E. the President, that the Presidency will soon meet and set a date for the graduation of the unified forces,” he added.

Furthermore, the Interim Chair has commended the SSPDF leadership for the recently concluded Court Martial in Yei, Central Equatoria State that resulted in the trial and conviction of several soldiers for crimes committed against civilians such as murder, rape and looting, among others.  

“It is important that all perpetrators of violence are held accountable,” he said. In his recommendation, Amb. Gituai called on the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) to fast track the process for the consideration and adoption of the agreed final roadmap and to urgently set the date for the graduation and redeployment of the unified forces and the commencement of Phase 2 and the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) process.

In conclusion, he said, at this critical phase of the implementation of the peace agreement, “I appeal to all of you as members of RJMEC to be cognizant of our collective mandate, as monitors and evaluators.”  “Let us seize this unique opportunity and proactively engage with the RTGoNU, propose remedial measures to overcome the challenges to the peace process, and facilitate progress.”

ENDS