The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation has on Thursday called on the South Sudanese warring parties to embrace the spirit of compromise at the revitalization forum and end the “senseless killings” in the country.

“The achievement of peace in South Sudan is a collective process. You must all make the decision that the conflict, and especially the senseless killings need to stop and say enough is enough,” JMEC Deputy Chairperson Ambassador Lt. Gen. Augostino Njoroge said.

“It is critical for allparties to fully abide by the Agreements they have signed to date, including the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access of December 2017 (ACoH) and particularly refrain from all acts of violence,” he added.

Speaking in Juba on Thursday during the closing ceremony of a four-day workshop, Ambassador Njoroge said even though steps that have been taken towards the Peace Agreement revitalization process is “encouraging”, the Parties should endeavor to resolve outstanding issues.

“So much ground has been covered since the Revitalization process begun. This is indeed encouraging. JMEC continues to urge the Parties in the conflict to embrace the spirit of compromise and to resolve all the outstanding issues,” he said.

The workshop themed “Peace in Time: Creating awareness for the Youth on the South Sudan Peace Process” brought together 200 students from the Youth Peacemaker Network at the Juba-based Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI). 

The workshop provided training on the 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, the 2017 Cessation of Hostilities (ACoH) and the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF).

Ambassador Njoroge said the youth of South Sudan, “should be the social capital, the vanguard and a force for good.”

“The youth in this country must rally around a common goal, set better standards, educate the population on their rights and responsibilities and continue to agitate for a peaceful resolution of the conflict that has continued for far too long,” he said.

“Remember however that, all wars must end in peace. Let all of you as South Sudanese find in your hearts a place to forgive each other, accommodate one another and rekindle the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood and take another historic step to rebuild your motherland. As the youth, the future belongs to you more than any other social group.” 

Dear Participants,

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Good afternoon!

Let me start by congratulating all the participants who attended this very important orientation workshop on the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (ARCSS), the High Level Revitalisation Forum (HLRF), and the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access (ACoH). I have been fully briefed on the presentations and the fruitful deliberations that you have had as well as the interactive sessions.  

I am also informed that the discussions you held have enabled you to know ways and opportunities in which you can now engage in the South Sudan Peace process going forward, in a more inclusive and participatory way.

 So much ground has been covered since the Revitalization process begun. This is indeed encouraging. JMEC continues to urge the Parties in the conflict to embrace the spirit of compromise and to resolve all the outstanding issues. It is critical for allparties to fully abide by the Agreements they have signed to date, including to the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access of December 2017 (ACoH) and particularly refrain from all acts of violence. 

Above all, you the young people, should be the social capital, the vanguard and a force for good. The Youth in this country must rally around a common goal, set better standards, educate the population on their rights and responsibilities and continue to agitate for a peaceful resolution of the conflict that has continued for far too long.  

The achievement of peace in South Sudan is a collective process. We must all make the decision that the conflict, and especially the senseless killings need to stop and say Enough is enough. 

Remember however that, all wars must end in peace. Let all of you as South Sudanese all find in your hearts a place to forgive each other, accommodate one another and rekindle the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood and take another historic step to rebuild your mother land. As the youth, the future belongs to you more than any other social group. Now that you are more educated on what is at stake, you have been empowered to participate in bringing peace to your country South Sudan in a more informed way and I therefore wish you good luck.

With these few remarks, I declare this orientation workshop closed.

Thank you very much and May God Bless you. 

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Thursday, July 19, 2018, Juba, South Sudan

Enough is enough; end the senseless killings, JMEC tells warring Parties 

The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation has on Thursday called on the South Sudanese warring parties to embrace the spirit of compromise at the revitalization forum and end the “senseless killings” in the country.

“The achievement of peace in South Sudan is a collective process. You must all make the decision that the conflict, and especially the senseless killings need to stop and say enough is enough,” JMEC Deputy Chairperson Ambassador Lt. Gen. Augostino Njoroge said.

“It is critical for allparties to fully abide by the Agreements they have signed to date, including the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access of December 2017 (ACoH) and particularly refrain from all acts of violence,” he added.

Speaking in Juba on Thursday during the closing ceremony of a four-day workshop, Ambassador Njoroge said even though steps that have been taken towards the Peace Agreement revitalization process is “encouraging”, the Parties should endeavor to resolve outstanding issues.

“So much ground has been covered since the Revitalization process begun. This is indeed encouraging. JMEC continues to urge the Parties in the conflict to embrace the spirit of compromise and to resolve all the outstanding issues,” he said.

The workshop themed “Peace in Time: Creating awareness for the Youth on the South Sudan Peace Process” brought together 200 students from the Youth Peacemaker Network at the Juba-based Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI). 

The workshop provided training on the 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, the 2017 Cessation of Hostilities (ACoH) and the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF).

Ambassador Njoroge said the youth of South Sudan, “should be the social capital, the vanguard and a force for good.”

“The youth in this country must rally around a common goal, set better standards, educate the population on their rights and responsibilities and continue to agitate for a peaceful resolution of the conflict that has continued for far too long,” he said.

“Remember however that, all wars must end in peace. Let all of you as South Sudanese find in your hearts a place to forgive each other, accommodate one another and rekindle the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood and take another historic step to rebuild your motherland. As the youth, the future belongs to you more than any other social group.” 

ENDS

Communication Office

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Monday, July 16, 2018, Juba, South Sudan

JMEC Deputy chairperson: The impact of the war on civilians is “deeply disheartening” 

The continuous killings of civilians, sexual violence against women, the displacement of children, the elderly and disabled persons in South Sudan are “deeply disheartening”, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) has said.

Speaking during the opening of a four-day orientation workshop in Juba on Monday, JMEC Deputy Chairperson Ambassador Lt. Gen. Augostino Njoroge said, 

“The impact of the war on the civilian population is deeply disheartening. We in the JMEC, particularly deeply regret the killing of civilians, sexual violence against women, the displacement of children, the elderly and disabled persons,”. 

“Today, we are still being confronted by increased hostilities amongst different Parties and flagrant violations of the permanent ceasefire. The continuously deteriorating political, security, humanitarian and economic situation in the country has caused unprecedented displacement, famine and economic meltdown.” He added. 

This, he said, as evidenced in the report by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and United Nations Human Rights released in June.

“We strongly condemn any acts of violence on civilian population and remind the parties to respect the spirit and fully commit to the letter and spirit of Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, signed by all Parties to the conflict on 21st December 2017,” he said.

Notably, he added, the economic situation continues to worsen. “The effects of the war are putting more pressure on an already fragile economy and causing more despair amongst the South Sudanese population,” he noted. 


Despite all these setbacks, the Deputy Chairperson said, the Commission continues to urge all South Sudanese to play a part in positively engaging in the peace process. 

“I call on all of you here to be the front-runners in promoting peace in the country.”

The workshop themed, “Peace in Time: Creating awareness for the Youth on the South Sudan Peace Process” is organized by JMEC in collaboration with the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative and brings together 200 students from the center. 

Information and awareness about the content and procedures of the Peace process, including all the agreements that have emanated from it, is crucial in enabling effective participation among the South Sudanese population, Ambassador said.

ENDS

The continuous killings of civilians, sexual violence against women, the displacement of children, the elderly and disabled persons in South Sudan are “deeply disheartening”, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) has said.

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Wednesday June 27, 2018, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

JMEC CONDEMNS KILLING OF UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPER IN SOUTH SUDAN

The Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), H.E. Festus Mogae, strongly condemns the 26th June attack against the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and humanitarian providers in Yei River State that resulted in the death of a Peacekeeper. The Chairperson of JMEC expresses his deepest condolences to UNMISS and to the family, friends and colleagues of the slain UN Peacekeeper from Bangladesh.

This is but the most recent example of several disturbing trends.  It is the third attack against UNMISS Peacekeepers since 3rd May 2018. Six humanitarian aid workers have lost their lives and 384 access incidents have been reported so far this year by the United Nations.

The Chairperson of JMEC calls upon the Government of South Sudan and the leadership of all warring parties to ensure that United Nations agencies and all humanitarian providers have unimpeded access and can operate safely and freely in the Republic of South Sudan.

Individuals who directly or indirectly engage in attacks against United Nations or humanitarian personnel are violating the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (August 2015) and Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access (December 2017). 

The Chairperson of JMEC further calls upon the Government of South Sudan and all warring parties operating in the area of this latest killing to bring the perpetrators of this cowardly attack to justice.  

Violators must be identified and made to face the law.

The National Constitution Amendment Committee (NCAC) on Thursday 21st June 2018, held a one-day stakeholders meeting on the review/amendment of election-related laws at Royal Palace Hotel, Juba. The meeting was officially opened by the Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), Rt. Honorable Anthony Lino Makana.

The stakeholders meeting was attended by more than  sixty (60) participants representatives of the National Elections Commission, Political Parties Council, the National Constitutional Review Commission, Members of all registered Political Parties, media, representatives of civil Society, youth and women organisations. Ambassador Mahen Kundasamy, JMEC Deputy Chief of Staff officially made opening and closing remarks at the meeting on behalf of the Chairperson of JMEC, H.E Festus Mogae.

The objective of the meeting was to validate proposed amendments to the Political Parties Act, 2012 and the National Elections Act, 2012 as well as obtain input / views and recommendations to support the amendment process.  The deliberations at the meeting were comprehensive and will be critical in the further review and amendment of the two election – related laws. Participants greatly appreciated the stakeholders forum and provided extensive feedback that will be duly considered and incorporated by the Committee. The meeting was very successful in achieving the aforementioned objectives. The Committee will now consider and incorporate the views from the meeting and finalise the proposals in the form of amendment bills which will be then presented to the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) has on Wednesday held its 6thDonor Conference in the South Sudan capital, Juba.