The South Sudanese Opposition Alliance discuss membership of the Joint Defense Board
The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) yesterday met with the leadership of South Sudanese Opposition Alliance (SSOA) to discuss their membership and composition of the Joint Defence Board (JDB).
The meeting was convened by JMEC and attended by officials from the Office of the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan. The meeting followed a disagreement within the National Pre-Transitional Committee (NPTC) on the correct interpretation of Article 2.4.2 of the R-ACRSS 2018 on nominations to the JDB.
In discussions led by JMEC Interim Chairperson Ambassador Lt. Gen. Augostino S.K. Njoroge, the SSOA leader H.E. Gabriel Changson Chang and his fellow-members of the Alliance reached a common understanding.
The Chairperson Lt. Gen. Njoroge said: “It was encouraging to see the spirit of openness and cooperation we had at this meeting. SSOA showed their unwavering support for the agreement, and were prepared to be flexible to abide by our impartial interpretation of provisions of the revitalized agreement.”
The SSOA’s membership nominees to the JDB will be duly submitted to JMEC without delay, now that all outstanding issues surrounding the matter have been cleared up.
“The matter of security is essential in the ongoing implementation of the revitalized agreement, and today was a measure of how seriously SSOA takes it. For the part of JMEC, we are pleased to continue in our role of facilitating wherever we can, to ensure implementation continues without undue delay,” Lt. Gen. Njoroge added.
IGAD Appoints Ambassador Lt. General Augostino S.K Njoroge as Acting Chairperson of JMEC
The Secretariat of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) has the honour to inform the Parties to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), other South Sudanese stakeholders, the regional and international community and the public at large that the Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers, H.E Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu has appointed the current JMEC Deputy Chairperson, Ambassador Lt General Augostino S.K Njoroge to continue as Deputy Chairperson of R-JMEC and to act as the Chairperson of the JMEC until a new Chairperson is appointed by the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
Confidence-building and laying the foundations for sustainable peace in South Sudan
The following was delivered by JMEC Acting Chairperson Ambassador Lt. Gen. Augostino Njoroge on 7 November 2018 at a breakfast meeting of the South Sudan Center for Strategic and Policy Studies. The event was arranged to examine the issue of confidence-building and laying the foundations for sustainable peace in South Sudan.
Opening
Since its inception in 2015, JMEC’s role has consisted of monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on the status of implementation of the peace agreement. However, our continuous oversight of the implementation of the agreement and the special deliberations of the six working committees of JMEC, made it clear that there were serious lacunae in the implementation of the agreement.
This is why the then-JMEC Chairperson H.E. Festus Mogae recommended the revitalization of the peace agreement. Accordingly, through exhaustive mapping of the stakeholders and understanding of the failures of 2015, JMEC was able to substantively contribute to the development of the 2018 revitalized agreement which was signed by the parties in September 2018.
JMEC’s opinion is that currently, the political environment has improved to the extent that the revitalized agreement can be implemented in a way which was not possible for the 2015 peace agreement. The commitment of the government and the Parties is stronger now. However, it still requires an ongoing process of confidence- and trust-building measures on the part of all Parties, and also the regional and international stakeholders.
Following are the key points or opportunities that JMEC has identified and recommends.
At the level of South Sudan
1. In addition to the President of South Sudan’s confidence building measures already undertaken, the President as a national leader should continue to constructively engage all stakeholders and Parties to the agreement to ensure that each party fulfils what it agreed to do in signing the revitalized agreement.
2. Together and in a spirit of unity, the President and the leaders of the Opposition should travel throughout the country and advocate for peace and reconciliation to the people of South Sudan.
3. The value of traditional leaders and chiefs must be recognized and factored in to the implementation process through various confidence-building mechanisms.
4. The existing National Dialogue can be instrumental to the implementation process, but it should be genuine and inclusive to serve as a building block in the pursuit of trust building.
5. Traditional South Sudanese conflict resolution mechanisms and inter-tribal dialogue practices should be used to deepen understanding and contribute to the full implementation of the agreement. Academia, researchers and other experienced practitioners should be involved to provide recommendations and examples of best practice.
6. The Parties should collectively show the determination and necessary political will to take action against spoilers from whatever angle they come. There should be alignment of message and action of the Parties to counter forces that seek to disrupt or delay implementation.
7. The Parties should ensure that all the remaining political detainees and prisoners of war are released, and those with criminal cases are given transparent and timely due process.
8. For confidence building purposes, we recommend to officially announce the lifting of state of emergency, to ensure that the political space needed for exercising the individual’s democratic rights and freedom of speech are in place, and the role of a responsible media is duly recognised.
9. The Parties should examine the mistakes of the recent past, draw lessons, and develop early-warning mechanisms to avoid the triggers that lead to the conflict of July 2016.
10. The Church and faith-based leaders, eminent personalities, and civil society, women’s and youth groups, should be given a prominent role in national reconciliation and the confidence-building effort.
11. Lessons on national reconciliation and healing should be drawn from elsewhere on the continent and applied to the South Sudanese context.
At the regional and international level:
12. Regional and international guarantors should give their full support to the implementation of the agreement, including to the agreement institutions, through appropriate political and economic support.
All these measures, if properly implemented will create a conducive political, social, and economic environment for the people of South Sudan, especially refugees and internally displaced, to enjoy the dividends of peace.
The National Constitutional Amendment Committee begins work to lay the legal framework for reform
The National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) held its first working meeting at JMEC offices in Juba on Monday, 5 November. The meeting was attended by representatives of all the parties in the reconstituted committee, including members of all the parties, women, youth and civil society. JMEC commends that representatives of the SPLM-IO and SSOA travelled from outside the country to attend. This is a welcome indicator of trust-building.
The NCAC is scheduled to meet continuously in Juba for the next three weeks. Its work is critical in laying the legal framework for the pre-transitional and transitional reforms. NCAC is mandated to incorporate the revitalized agreement into the transitional constitution, review security, political parties and election laws among other things.
Yesterday’s meeting followed the inaugural meeting in Khartoum on 22 October 2018, during which the modalities of NCAC’s work were discussed and a tentative schedule agreed on for the incorporation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) into the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan (TCRSS) 2011 (Amended) 2018.
NCAC Chairman Gichara Kibara said: “The Committee’s meeting went well. This is indeed a positive and encouraging start to the work of the reconstituted Committee as we embark on undertaking our very critical role. We look forward to fruitful deliberations and we are optimistic that we will be able to achieve this important task.”
The members of the committee are as follows: representatives of IGAD: two (2) - Chair and Deputy Chair; TGoNU: five; SPLM/A-IO: two; SSOA: one; FDs: one; Other Political Parties (OPP): one; Civil Society: one; Women: one; and Youth: one.
Unity among key parties to the R-ARCSS, “signals hope for peace implementation,” says JMEC
The peace celebration held on Wednesday in the capital Juba was a “day will live long in the memory,” of many, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), has said.
The coming together of key parties to the R-ARCSS signals continued hope for peace implementation
PRESS RELEASE
(For Immediate Publication)
Thursday, November 1, 2018, Juba, South Sudan
The coming together of key parties to the R-ARCSS signals continued hope for peace implementation
The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) takes this opportunity to applaud the people and leaders of the Republic of South Sudan for conducting successful peace celebrations on Wednesday at John Garang Mausoleum.
For the people of South Sudan, the region and the international community, the day will live long in the memory as it was a huge public demonstration of continued hope for reconciliation, and a permanent end to the longstanding conflict in the country.
That key opposition leaders came to Juba after a long absence and shared a podium in a spirit of compromise and national solidarity is a public signal that the much-needed building of trust and inclusive implementation of the agreement is underway.
JMEC Deputy Chairperson Ambassador Lt. Gen. Augostino Njoroge said: “The faces of the thousands of jubilant South Sudanese from all walks of life who attended the event showed optimism and hope, and they also have an expectation that their leaders will give it their all to implement peace.”
The announcement to release more political prisoners and the call to open humanitarian access routes and allow free movement of people are important indicators that the parties are willing and able to make a compromise.
“The signing of the agreement in September was not forced upon the parties – it was an act of compromise and leadership. We at JMEC are hopeful for the future, though we do not underestimate the task ahead. We will do everything we can to support the process, and expect all other stakeholders to do the same,” Lt. Gen. Njoroge added.
As mandated by the R-ARCSS, JMEC works closely with all political stakeholders in the country, as well as with regional and international partners, for an inclusive, impartial and honest implementation of the peace agreement.
ENDS
Reconstituted NCAC holds its inaugural meeting in Khartoum
The reconstituted National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) has on Sunday held its inaugural meeting in the Sudan’s Capital, Khartoum.
NPTC holds its inaugural meeting in Khartoum, JMEC terms it as a ”positive news” for S. Sudan
The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) has asked the National Pre-Transitional Committee (NPTC) to constructively engage the people of South Sudan for effective and inclusive implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
The National Pre-Transitional Committee holds its inaugural meeting in Khartoum
Communication Office
PRESS RELEASE
(For Immediate Publication)
Monday, October 22, 2018, Juba, South Sudan
NPTC it holds its inaugural meeting in Khartoum
The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) has asked the National Pre-Transitional Committee (NPTC) to constructively engage the people of South Sudan for effective and inclusive implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
Speaking during the opening session of the inaugural meeting of the NPTC in Khartoum on Sunday, JMEC Deputy Chairperson Ambassador Lt. Gen. Augostino Njoroge said:
“The reconstitution of the NPTC and the convening of its first meeting heralds very positive news for the people of South Sudan who are eagerly awaiting to see the agreement implemented in letter and spirit.”
Ambassador Njoroge urged the Committee to take the responsibility for bringing about the healing and reconciliation process for the people of South Sudan.
“It is evident that the huge responsibility bestowed upon you requires the collaboration of regional and international actors. This behooves you to develop an effective and transparent mechanism to bring on board those important partners,” Ambassador Njoroge added.
The IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan Ambassador Dr. Ismail Wais and Sudan Special Envoy for South Sudan, Ambassador Jamal al-Sheikh also attended the meeting. Ambassador Njoroge said the Committee’s approach to challenges will be key “to a successful implementation of the many critical tasks” that lie ahead.
"I would like to draw the attention of the Committee members to the need to look carefully at the financial requirements for the revitalized peace agreement, institutions and mechanisms,” the Deputy Chair told the Committee.
“Experience has shown that a failure to secure the requisite financing for such crucial institutions can severely undermine and ultimately stall implementation.”
Article 1.4.7 of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the NPTC is among other tasks, entrusted with the function of oversight and coordination of the implementation of the Agreement during an 8-month pre-transitional period, draw a roadmap for implementing the political tasks, as well as prepare budget for the activities, and address issues of VIP security in Juba.
In addition, the 10-member committee is required to submit monthly written reports to the Chairperson of the Reconstituted JMEC, the Parties and other stakeholders.
The membership of the committee is drawn from TGoNU (5), SPLM/A-IO (2), South Sudan Opposition Alliance (1), Former Detainees (1) and Other Political Parties (1).
ENDS
INTERVIEW: We are optimistic the revitalised peace Agreement will work, restore peace, says JMEC
JMEC Deputy Chief of Staff-Strategy (Ag) Dr. Thomson Fontaine spoke extensively on the Commission’s recently released status of implementation of the revitalised Agreement update, during an interview with Radio Miraya in Juba on Wednesday. Excerpts:
Audio version available here: https://www.jmecsouthsudan.org/index.php/audio-and-video/item/372-jmec-chief-of-staff-strategy-ag-dr-thomson-fontaine-interview-with-radio-miraya-in-juba-oct-17-2018
JMEC Chief of Staff-Strategy (Ag) Dr. Thomson Fontaine, interview with Radio Miraya in Juba Oct 17, 2018.
D-Day +30: JMEC issues update on the status of implementation of the revitalized Agreement
The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) has on Friday 12 October 2018 issued a status update on the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).