Communication Office

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Monday, 27th January 2020, Juba, South Sudan

RJMEC ADDRESSES AUPSC, REPORTS SLOW PACE OF IMPLEMENTATION, AND APPEALS FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR THE SOUTH SUDAN REVITALISED PEACE AGREEMENT

The Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) H.E. Ambassador Lt. Gen. Augostino Njoroge on Monday 27thJanuary, 2020 addressed the 905thmeeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

While addressing the meeting, H.E. Ambassador Lt. Gen. Njoroge expressed concern over the slow pace of implementation of the Pre-Transitional tasks due to delayed funding and the lack of effective coordination between the Agreement implementing Mechanisms.

“Funds were not availed to the implementing mechanisms until the 17th of December 2019, 35 days into the 100 days extension,” he said. Furthermore, he continued, despite mobilization of troops to cantonment sites and training centres, the implementing Agreement Mechanisms “have not performed as expected.” 

He asked the Council to appeal to the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to continue providing the funds necessary for the implementation of the outstanding Pre-Transitional tasks and ensure that implementation of the outstanding Pre-Transitional tasks is expedited to enable the RTGoNU (Revitalized Government of National Unity) to be formed in a timely manner.

In his address, Ambassador Njoroge also asked the Council to appeal to the regional and international community and friends of South Sudan to continue supporting the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement. 

Finally, in his recommendations, Ambassador Njoroge asked the Council “to appeal to the Government and the Parties to the Agreement to compromise in order to resolve the outstanding issue of the number of states and their boundaries to enable the formation of the RTGoNU on a solid foundation.” 


[ENDS]

HonourableMinisters, 

Excellencies, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning.

1.   Let me start by wishing all of you a Happy New Year, and I am sure you will join me in hoping that this will be the year that will herald lasting peace for the people of South Sudan. Before proceeding, I would like to make a few points. Firstly, I would like to inform you that the latest RJMEC Quarterly Report for the fourth quarter of 2019, is now ready, and a copy will be provided to you today. Next, I would like to welcome the new CTSAMVM Chairperson, Major General Teshome Gemechu Aderie, and in the same vein, I would like to appreciate the contribution of his predecessor, Major General Desta, as well as congratulate him on his recent promotion to Lt. General. I wish him all the best in his future endeavours. On a sad note, I wish on the behalf of the RJMEC members, to offer our condolences to the family and friends of the Honourable Steward Sorobo Budia, a signatory to the Agreement for the United Democratic Party, who passed on recently. 

2.   As all of us are aware, we have passed the 50 days mark of the 100 days extension, and in fact, today we are only 30 days away from the expiry of the 100 days extension. As you may recall in the last RJMEC updated status of implementation of agreed Pre-Transitional tasks, we highlighted the ten critical Pre-Transitional tasks that were outstanding, in addition to the issue of the number of states and their boundaries. I am concerned that with only 30 days left, these same Pre-Transitional tasks are still outstanding.

3.   In my statement today, I will highlight the status of implementation of the critical Pre-Transitional tasks since our last monthly meeting, highlight some recurring issues, and I will then conclude with my recommendations on the way forward.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

4.    As has been clear throughout the statements I have made to this and other meetings, there are two critical pending tasks necessary for the formation of the R-TGoNU on a solid foundation. They are the unification of forces, and the issue of the number of states and their boundaries. 

5.   Firstly, the unification of forces. There have been thousands of troops reporting to training centres, having been transported from cantonment sites. The JTSC will provide a clearer picture in its report shortly.  However, I am concerned that the screening of forces has not started yet, even though the screening teams are reported to be ready to begin. Of course, no training can take place before screening, and the more it is delayed, the more the time that will be lost in beginning the training of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF). I therefore urge the Joint Defence Board (JDB) to ensure that the screening, selection and training of forces starts immediately in consultation with the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission.  

6.   With regard to observation of the Permanent Ceasefire, I would like to express my concern regarding the developments in Maiwut. The reported loss of life and displacement of the civilian population are unacceptable. I understand that the SSPDF and SPLM/A-IO have taken steps to address the situation. CTSAMVM will give further details in its report. In addition, I call on the concerned parties to cease all hostilities, and to fully observe the Permanent Ceasefire. I also urge the authorities to take steps to ensure the protection of the civilian population.

7.   Furthermore, I remain concerned by the continued occupation of civilian centres contrary to Article 2.2.3.1 of the R-ARCSS. This is an issue that should be straightforward to resolve, but it continues to come up. CTSAMVM’s recent report shows that in the last month, buildings in two schools have been occupied by the SSPDF. This makes a total of 25 occupied buildings, of which 24 are by the SSPDF and 1 by SPLM/A-IO. I would like to ask the JDB to explain why this continues to be an issue. 

8.   Secondly, the issue of the number of states and their boundaries remains outstanding despite several efforts to resolve it. Following the directive of the IGAD Council of Ministers at its 69thExtra-Ordinary session[1], the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan convened two rounds of meetings facilitated by H.E. David Mabuza, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, and the Regional Special Envoys. The meetings adjourned last week with a proposal for the establishment of an Arbitration Committee to settle the matter, and the Parties were given a week to deliberate on the proposal. I wish to commend H.E. David Mabuza and the Special Envoys for their efforts thus far, and I encourage them to continue engaging the Parties. As RJMEC Chair, I appeal to the leadership of the Parties to compromise and take all necessary steps to arrive at a consensual and pragmatic political solution.   

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen 

9.   Overall, my observation is that the optimism that the Security Mechanisms expressed at the last monthly meeting has not been matched by their performance in implementation since then. All of them have fallen behind the timelines of their action plans. Despite the commitment by the Security Mechanisms to coordinate their activities more closely, this still has not happened. I urge the JDB to remedy the situation as soon as possible. I also expect that the implementation will be fast-tracked in the remaining 30 days. It is also essential that additional funds be provided, and that the requirements of accountability and transparency are observed. 

10.  I am encouraged by reports of continuing in-kind support being extended by some partners. In this regard, I would like to thank the governments of Japan and China for their most recent donations. That said, I remain concerned with the very slow distribution of these donations from Juba to the designated cantonment sites and training centres. I urge the NPTC to ensure the immediate distribution of all the in-kind donations to the designated sites, and to clear up any confusion about roles and responsibilities in this regard. I once again appeal for more support for the implementation of the Agreement.  

11.  On the engagement with the hold-out groups in the peace process, I was pleased to learn of the Sant’Egidio-facilitated meeting in Rome and the resulting declaration on the cessation of hostilities and commitment to dialogue. I welcome this development, and appeal to IGAD and the Parties to embrace this process. 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen 

12.   In view of the above, my recommendations are as follows.

a)   The mid-term review of the 100 days extension to be immediately conducted by the Guarantors to assess the status of implementation of the security-related critical Pre-Transitional tasks, to determine the way forward;

b)  The Security Mechanisms to enhance their cooperation and take steps to expedite and concurrently implement the pending tasks of screening, selection and training of the NUF;

c)   The leadership of the Parties to demonstrate the spirit of compromise and press for a timely political resolution of the issue of the number of states and their boundaries;  

d)  More funding be availed to the Security Mechanisms to enable progress of the unification of forces, while observing the requirements of accountability and transparency;

e)   In-kind support stored in Juba to be transported to the cantonment sites and training centres according to the needs, and to that end, I recommend that the JDB be tasked with delivering these resources; and

f)    All occupied civilian buildings to be vacated without exception.

13.  Finally, I had written to the Mechanisms directing them to focus their reports specifically on the progress of the implementation of the activities planned to be executed during the 100 days extension, challenges faced, and the way forward in addressing the remaining tasks. I therefore expect this meeting to carefully consider the reports of the Mechanisms, review the progress made, and provide guidance on the way forward.

14.  I wish you fruitful deliberations.

Thank you.

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has expressed concerns over delayed screening and training of unified forces in South Sudan.
 

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday 23rd January, 2020, Juba, South Sudan

Delayed screening and training of unified forces a concern 

Minister The National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) today submitted the revised Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011 (Amendment) (NO.6) Bill, 2020 to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs pursuant to Article 1.18.6of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

STATEMENT BY H.E. AMB. LT. GEN. AUGOSTINO S.K. NJOROGE,

INTERIM CHAIRPERSON, RJMEC,

TO THE 12th RJMEC MONTHLY MEETING.

TUESDAY, 17THDECEMBER 2019

JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN

 HonourableMinisters, 

Excellencies, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning.

1.   I welcome all of you to the 12th RJMEC meeting. As you are all aware, there has been a change in the Chairmanship of IGAD, and I would like to take this early opportunity to congratulate the Republic of Sudan on the assumption of the Chairmanship. I wish the people and the government every success in the discharge of this responsibility. I would also like to join the IGAD Heads of State and Government in appreciating and thanking the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for the pivotal role it played in steering and spearheading the work of IGAD as the Chair for over a decade. 

2.   I also congratulate H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu on his appointment as the new Executive Secretary of IGAD, and sincerely thank H.E. Ambassador Mahboub Maalim, the former Executive Secretary of IGAD, for his services to the region.

3.   Now to the business at hand. It is only three weeks ago since we last met, but such is the importance of this current period in the implementation of the R-ARCSS that it is imperative for us to meet and take stock sooner rather than later. This is also the last time we will meet before the mid-term review, a point that represents the half-way mark of the 100 days extension period that began on 12thNovember 2019. This is going to be our last meeting of the year 2019. It is deeply regrettable that implementation of the activities of the Pre-Transitional period have failed to live up to expectation.

4.   My statement will highlight the situation regarding implementation since our last monthly meeting. I will then conclude with my recommendations on the way forward.  

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

5.   As I made it clear in my previous public statements, including to this meeting, to the IGAD Council of Ministers and to the African Union Peace and Security Council, that there are two key pending issues critical to the successful implementation of the Pre-Transitional activities and the establishment of the RTGoNU on a solid foundation. These are the unification of necessary forces and the resolution of the number of States and their boundaries. I continue to say that their timely implementation requires political will, leadership and predictable release of the necessary funding.

6.   Firstly, on funding; I am informed that the mechanisms received some funds on Friday 13thDecember, and this is welcome. I request the NPTC to explain the criteria of the allocations to the mechanisms. I note, however, that as a consequence of this late release of funds, a lot of time has already been lost and there is no significant progress as yet in the implementation of the critical pending Pre-Transitional tasks that I can mention today. This, of course, is very disappointing. However, as RJMEC Chair, I am still confident that the mechanisms will make significant progress within the remaining 65 days. 

7.   I am aware that the NPTC has allocated some funds to support the representatives of the Agreement Parties within the RJMEC, which is welcome. It is my expectation that the government will continue to release funds in a timely manner to the NPTC throughout the extension period. Furthermore, I also expect that the issues of accountability and transparency will be addressed.

8.   Secondly, the unification of forces. As a result of the delay in the disbursement of funds, I must state that there has not been any meaningful progress to report on. To be specific, no screening, no selection and no training has taken place. In my last statement, I recommended that food and supplies, including the in-kind support stored in Juba, be sent to cantonment sites, and I would like the JMCC to report on whether this has been done. 

9.   Following on from last month’s security workshop, some planning has been taking place, and I understand that the refined plans of action that each mechanism developed were submitted to the NPTC. These were to be reviewed and consolidated, and I would request the NPTC to present the integrated plan. 

10.  The weekly coordination meetings of the mechanisms and the NPTC, that were agreed on at the security workshop have not been taking place, and I would like to know why? Despite my repeated appeal, 25 civilian centres continue to be occupied by the forces, 24 by the SSPDF, and 1 by the SPLM/A-IO. I expect CTSAMVM to give further details in its report. 

11.  Thirdly, the issue of the number of states and their boundaries. I was pleased that the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan convened a meeting of the Parties to resolve the issue of the number of states and their boundaries. This meeting was held over a three-day period in Juba from 2nd – 4th December 2019. I wish to commend H.E. David Mabuza, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, for demonstrating leadership as he chaired the meeting. I also appreciate the input of H.E. Stephen Kolonzo Musyoka of Kenya. The meeting narrowed the gaps between the positions of the Parties, and paved the way for possible compromise. I look forward to its reconvening in the near future. I urge the leadership of the Parties to expedite their deliberations on this matter and reach a compromise.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

12.  As you may recall, the Tripartite summit in Entebbe, Uganda, agreed on a mechanism to help expedite the implementation of the security arrangements of the Pre-Transitional period. This mechanism is now referred to as the Security Supervision Mechanism (SSM). Its Terms of Reference are ready, and have been submitted for approval by the Guarantors. I would kindly ask the IGAD Special Envoy’s Representative to this meeting to update us on the mechanism’s progress to date, including the modalities of how it will function and its plans for conducting the mid-term review.   

13.   I welcome the visit of Dr Riek Machar to Juba which began last week, and the meetings he held with H.E. Salva Kiir, President of the Republic of South Sudan, and other stakeholders. Dr Machar’s presence in Juba contributes in progressing the implementation of the Agreement, especially in resolving outstanding issues and on building further confidence amongst the Parties. I call upon the key principals to the Agreement to continue their engagement to ensure that progress is made.

14.  On the humanitarian situation, as you are aware there has been flooding in many parts of the country, leading to the loss of life and property.  I therefore want to offer my sympathies to those affected by the flooding, and I appeal for urgent humanitarian assistance.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

15.  We now have only 65 days left of the 100 days extension. Time has been lost for various reasons, including delay in funding. Much work remains to be done. In view of this, my recommendations are as follows:  

a)   Despite having received the funds as late as last Friday, 13thDecember, I expect the mechanisms to immediately embark on their action plans and fast-track implementation;

b)  I urge the mechanisms to coordinate effectively amongst themselves, and to prioritise the screening and selection of forces for training, and to ensure the delivery of food and supplies to cantonment sites and training centres;

c)   The Security Supervision Mechanism to commence its work and closely coordinate with the NPTC, the Office of the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, RJMEC and CTSAMVM;

d)  All security mechanisms, including the DDR Commission, should adhere to their refined action plans, and the NPTC should coordinate the mechanisms for effective implementation;

e)   The mechanisms should implement their activities giving due consideration to accountability and transparency;

f)    The IGAD Special Envoy to pursue the issue of the number of States and boundaries as a priority, and to remain seized of all the other outstanding issues, including urgently engaging the hold-out groups; and 

g)   I urge the Parties to compromise in resolving the number of States and their boundaries, and to cooperate fully in the unification of forces, so that the RTGoNU is established on a solid foundation and in a timely manner. 

16.   In closing, I would like to underline that with the funds now availed to the mechanisms, they must immediately embark on their priority tasks and accomplish as much as possible within the remaining 65 days.

17.   I wish you fruitful deliberations on the way forward. 

Thank you. 

Communication Office

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Tuesday, 17 December, 2019 , Juba, South Sudan

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRE-TRANSITIONAL PERIOD TO IMPROVE WITH AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS 

With the release of funds to the R-ARCSS mechanisms, the Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has expressed confidence that significant progress will now be made in implementing Pre-Transitional period critical tasks within the remaining 65 days. 

Speaking during the 12th RJMEC monthly meeting in Juba on Tuesday, the Interim Chairperson, H.E. Ambassador Lt. Gen. Augostino Njoroge said: 

“It is my expectation that the government will continue to release funds in a timely manner to the NPTC throughout the extension period. Furthermore, I also expect that the issues of accountability and transparency will be addressed.”

He said timely implementation (of pending tasks) requires political will, leadership and predictable release of the necessary funding.  

The Interim Chairperson said that it is “deeply regrettable” that the implementation of the critical tasks of the Pre-Transitional period has ”failed to live up to expectation” in 2019.

Ambassador Njoroge said two key pending issues critical to the successful implementation of the Pre-Transitional activities and the establishment of the RTGoNU on a solid foundation remain outstanding. These are the unification of necessary forces and the resolution of the number of States and their boundaries. 

“To be specific, no screening, no selection and no training has taken place. This is of course, is very disappointing,” he said. 

The Interim Chairperson also welcomed the face-to-face meetings between Dr. Riek Machar and H.E. President Salva Kiir, and other stakeholders, saying these meetings contribute in the resolution of outstanding issues and build further confidence amongst the Parties. 

“I call upon the key principals to the Agreement to continue their engagement to ensure that progress is made,” he said.

Full statement: https://www.jmecsouthsudan.org/index.php/jmec-statements/item/493-statement-by-h-e-amb-lt-gen-augostino-s-k-njoroge-interim-chairperson-rjmec-to-the-12th-rjmec-monthly-meeting-tuesday-17th-december-2019-juba-south-sudan  

ENDS

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has reiterated the criticality of resolving the number of states and their boundaries before the end of the expended Pre-Transitional Period of the Revitalized Peace Agreement. 

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has called for prudent management and utilization of funds meant for the implementation of the remaining critical pre-transitional tasks of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

A two-day jointworkshop convened together by RJMEC, IGAD, AU Commission and CTSAMVM for the Revitalized Peace Agreement security mechanisms came to a close on Tuesday.