Communication Office
PRESS RELEASE
(For Immediate Publication)
Thursday, 22 July 2021 , Juba, South Sudan
RJMEC convenes its 18thmonthly plenary, lack of implementation of Transitional Security Arrangements remains a critical concern
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) on Thursday 22 July 2021, held its 18thmonthly meeting in Juba, South Sudan.
During the meeting, RJMEC Interim Chairperson Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai said that a lack of implementation of the Transitional Security Arrangements remains a “critical concern”.
“Even though some progress has been made in some areas of implementation of the (Peace) Agreement, a critical concern remains on the security arrangements, which is fundamental to the peace process.” General Gituai also appealed to the Parties to “urgently resolve the issue of the ratio of the unified forces and the unified command structure of the Necessary Unified Forces.”
The Interim Chairperson further urged the RTGoNU (Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity), “in the spirit of addressing the insecurity in the country”, to expedite the unification of forces and the Transitional Security Arrangements, and establish the state security committees.
“I urge the RTGoNU to make financial resources available for the completion of the Transitional Security Arrangements, including graduation and redeployment of unified forces,” he added.
Emphasising the importance of the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) and the Council of States, Maj. Gen. Gituai told the meeting that the swearing in of the members of these bodies should take place, while adhering to the 35% level of women representation and fair representation of the youth.
“This is important, particularly in the case of the TNLA because it should, upon commencement of its work, immediately ratify some important legislation that has been held up,” he said.
In his recommendations, the Interim Chairperson appealed to the Parties to the Agreement for continued dialogue and trust- and confidence-building among them on all unresolved issues, “with a greater show of political will and commitment.”
“With the memories of celebrating ten years of independence fresh in our minds, we note that the months of August and September mark the halfway point of the Transitional Period and the three years since the signing of the R-ARCSS respectively.”
“It is therefore imperative that the RTGoNU redoubles its efforts on the implementation of the remaining tasks that lay ahead of them,” he noted.
WORKSHOP ONTHE PERMANENT CONSTITUTION-MAKING PROCESSIN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN, 25-27 MAY 2021
“Designing the Path to a Durable Constitution
for South Sudan”
PRESS STATEMENT
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) announces the convening of a permanent Constitution-making process workshop from 25-27 May 2021 in Juba, Republic of South Sudan. The three-day workshop will start with an official opening by H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit on Tuesday 25 May 2021, at Freedom Hall, Juba, and will also be addressed by H.E. Dr. Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, Chairperson IGAD Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sudan.
This opening ceremony will be attended by over 250 invited guests, including the delegates to the workshop. This will be followed by two days of closed-door deliberations, at Palm Africa Hotel, from 26-27 May 2021 to be attended only by the nominees of the Parties and Stakeholders to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). These are representatives of the Incumbent TGoNU; SPLM/A-IO; SSOA; FDs; OPP, Eminent Personalities; Faith-Based Leaders, Academic; Women’s groups; Youth; Civil Society and Business Community.
Convened by the RJMEC pursuant to Article 6.7 of the R-ARCSS, the workshop is meant for the Parties to the R-ARCSS to agree on the details of the Permanent Constitution-making process. Under Article 6.9 of the R-ARCSS, the outcome of the workshop shall form the basis for drafting the legislation to guide the Permanent Constitution-making process as outlined under Chapter 6 of the R-ARCSS. The workshop will be facilitated by the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and Rule of Law, a Germany-based instituterenowned internationally for constitution-making, pursuant to Article 6.8 of the R-ARCSS. The outcome of the workshop will be presented to the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), which will then embark on a process of Constitution-making.
The RJMEC is the official oversight body under the R-ARCSS established pursuant to Chapter 7 of the R-ARCSS to monitor, evaluate and oversee the implementation of the R-ARCSS, and the mandate and tasks of the RTGoNU and all institutions and mechanisms established by the Revitalised Peace Agreement.The Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law is an independent and not-for-profit legal research institute with long experience in constitution-making processes worldwide. Its engagements in South Sudan’s constitutional work date back to (the then) Southern Sudan in 2002. The Max Planck Foundation has been actively supporting the rule of law sector in South Sudan for the past 19 years.
For further information, please visit www.jmecsouthsudan.organd www.mpfpr.de.
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Communication Office
PRESS RELEASE
(For Immediate Publication)
Wednesday, 31 March 2021 , Juba, South Sudan
RECONSTITUTE TNLA AND ADHERE TO THE 35% LEVEL OF WOMEN’S REPRESENTATION
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has called for the quick reconstitution of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), while urging the Parties to the Agreement to adhere to the 35% level of women’s representation in the appointments to it.
In a statement to the RJMEC members delievered electronically, the Interim Chairperson H.E. Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai said,
“A reconstituted TNLA is required to enact a range of legislations critical to the ongoing implementation of the R-ARCSS. I appeal to the RTGoNU (Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity), to reconstitute the assembly to enable the enactment of the Bills into law, and expedite judicial reforms.”
Furthermore, he added, “there is a clear need for more women to be appointed at all levels of government, especially at the state executive and legislative positions.”
On the security sector reforms, Maj. Gen. Gituai said “cantonment sites and training centers continue to face serious logistical constraints, such as food, medicines and sufficient shelter, which are lacking, and female combatants continue to lack appropriate facilities and personal hygiene items.”
“Training of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) has stalled, and no graduation or redeployment plans have been announced. The lack of sufficient funding to the Security Mechanisms is a constraint,” he said.
The Interim Chairperson also said the humanitarian situaiton in South Sudan is dire, as a result of multiple factors, including widespread sub-national violence, floods, COVID-19 related restrictions, economic challenges and acute food insecurity, impacting humanitarian movement and operations, threatening the safety of staff and assets.
“It is the responsibility of the RTGoNU, as per article 1.2.2, to restore permanent and sustainable peace, security, and stability, and I call upon the Central and State Governments to work jointly with local leaders and curb the violence. The operationalisation of the State Security Committees will be instrumental is alleviating the situation,” he said.
As we proceed into Easter, Maj. Gen. Gituai said, “I hope that we all use this time as a period of reflection so that when we return from the break, we are inspired to pick up the pace of implementation of the R-ARCSS and build momentum towards its full implementation in letter and spirit.
“Three months from now, July, marks ten years of independence for South Sudan, and now is the time to accelerate the implementation of the Agreement so that there will be much to celebrate in a decade of independence,” he added.
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Communication Office
PRESS RELEASE
(For Immediate Publication)
Thursday, 04 February 2021 , Juba, South Sudan
Transitional Security Arrangements underpin stable, secure South Sudan; slow pace of peace implementation concerning
The full implementation of the Transitional Security Arrangements (TSA) as set out in the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) is intended to underpin a stable and secure future for the people of South Sudan, but the slow pace of implementation is concerning.
Speaking during the 16thReconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) monthly meeting in Juba on Thursday 4 February 2021, Interim Chairperson Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai reiterated that implementation of the TSA as envisaged in the R-ARCSS is vital. However, he told the meeting that “no progress is reported on the training, graduation and redeployment of Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) under Phase I.” He warned that “protracted delays and passing of time without progress is detrimental to lasting peace in South Sudan.”
Outstanding issues, he conitnued, include the establishment of a unified command structure for the NUF (Necessary Unified Force), and addressing the ‘ranking’ (of personnel) process and the management of excess senior officers.
Reporting to the meeting about a recent visit to training sites for the NUF, the RJMEC Interim Chairperson said: “It was disheartening to observe that a lack of food and other essential resources, such as medicines, shelter and separate facilities for women, has led to the suffering of the trainees, and to some trainees abandoning the training centres.” Gen. Gituai urged the RTGoNU to avail the necessary resources for the implementation of the Peace Agreement, including the TSA.
In addition, the Interim Chairperson raised concerns about insufficient women’s representation as required in the Revitalised Peace Agreement, urging the Parties to expedite the appointment of all personnel to the government structures at the sub-national level, while observing the 35% level for women’s representation.
Further, the Interim Chairperson called for continued focus on the investigation, arrest, prosecution and sentencing of perpetrators of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) crimes, as well as continued training and sensitisation on SGBV issues within the Organised Forces.
In his recommedations to the meeting, the Interim Chairperson called on the ITGoNU (Incumbent Transitional Government of National Unity), SPLM/A-IO, SSOA (South Sudan Opposition Alliance) and OPP (Other Political Parties) to submit their nominations to National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC).
This is in order to facilitate the reconstitution of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) and the Council of States, while observing the 35% level for women’s representation. He also appealed to the ITGoNU to “submit the list of its representatives to the permanent constitutional process workshop to facilitate timely planning and its convening without delay.”
Finally, as the country looks forward to marking ten years of independence for South Sudan on 9 July 2021, the Interim Chairperson said: “It is incumbent on all of us to push hard on the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement so that the ten-year celebrations will mark not only the milestone of a decade of independence, but also significant progress in the implementation of the Peace Agreement.”
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The training and redeployment of the National Unified Forces (NUF) has stalled. This follows an assessment by the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC). In addition, the RJMEC has noted a significant decline in the pace of implementation of the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements (PCTSA) as envisaged in Chapter Two of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Of critical concern, the Commission noted, are the failure of cantonment, the stalling of NUF training, graduation and redeployment, and defections / changes of allegiance, which undermine the unification process.
Speaking during a one-day seminar organised by RJMEC that brought together the National Transitional Committee (NTC), the Revitalised Agreement security mechanisms and other key stakeholders, RJMEC Interim Chairperson H.E. Maj. Gen (Rtd) Charles Tai Gituai said:
“There are also reports of morale reaching low levels in the poorly supplied Cantonment sites, and reports of trainees abandoning poorly supplied training centres in search of food. To date no graduation or redeployment plans have been published.”
“Next month marks one year of the formation of Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), other chapters have progressed, however slowly, but Chapter Two (of the Revitalised Peace Agreement), critical in the overall success of the Peace process, seems to be the slowest,” he said.
The seminar’s aim was to determine the status of the PCTSA, the current and future challenges, to set priorities and to agree on solutions and proposals to keep the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements on track.
The RJMEC Interim Chairperson continued: “The success of the implementation of Chapter Two will create the foundation upon which security of all other chapters will operate; and it is an assurance of a stable nation, as Unified Forces signifies the National Unity and a symbol of nationhood, where security forces are loyal to the Constitution and to the country with one Commander in Chief who is also the Head of State.”
As the country marks ten years of independence in July 2021, Maj. Gen. Gituai said, “it is our hope that a strong push from all of us here and South Sudan’s political leaders will go a long way to ensuring that 9 July 2021, will see a celebration of progress in the implementation of the peace agreement.”
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Communication Office
PRESS RELEASE
(For Immediate Publication)
Thursday, 26 November, 2020 , Juba, South Sudan
RJMEC HOLDS ITS 15THMONTHLY MEETING; CALLS FOR CONCERNED PARTIES TO APPOINT UPPER NILE GOVERNOR
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) convened its 15thmonthly meeting today, Thursday 26 November, 2020 in Juba.
Speaking to the RJMEC members during the opening of meeting, RJMEC Interim Chairperson H.E. Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai said:
“The appointment of the governor of Upper Nile State remains outstanding. I have been informed on numerous occasions that negotiations between the concerned parties are ongoing. I therefore reiterate my previous appeals to the highest political leadership of the country to find compromise and appoint the governor of Upper Nile state. I am hopeful this will help address the instability in the state.”
Continuing his address, the Interim Chairperson said he remains concerned byrecent reports of military defections, adding it undermines trust and confidence in the peace process.
“I expect that all Parties to the Agreement view this issue with the seriousness it merits, because any action, including defections, by any party, individuals or groups detracts from the important work of peace building in the country and should be condemned,” he stated.
In addition, Maj. Gen. Gituai said the situation in both training centres and the cantonment sites continues to be of serious concern, with more recent reports indicating that food, medicines and other essential resources remain in scarce supply, resulting in some ex-combatants abandoning cantonment sites and training centres.
The Interim Chair then spoke about the issue of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) for ex-combatants. He said that it “remains an integral part of the unification process. However, it continues to face severe challenges which need to be addressed. The DDR process has to go hand in hand with the unification process to train and provide alternative means of livelihood to ex-combatants that are not eligible to join the unified force.”
On the humanitarian front, the Interim Chair reported that eight humanitarian workers have lost their lives this year, including one in October, while providing aid to people in need.
“That is in clear contravention of Chapter 3 of the Agreement, and international humanitarian law. I would like to call upon the government to ensure a safe and secure operating environment for humanitarian workers to ensure the continued delivery of much-needed humanitarian services.”
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Communication Office
PRESS RELEASE
(For Immediate Publication)
Thursday, 4 November 2020, Juba, South Sudan
RJMEC ADDRESSES NATIONAL DIALOGUE CONFERENCE: URGES ITS SUPPORT OF REVITALISED PEACE AGREEMENT
At the opening day of the National Dialogue conference on 3 November 2020, held in Juba, South Sudan, Ambassador Berhanu Kebede, Chief of Staff of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), delivered remarks to the distinguished participants on behalf of Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, Interim Chairperson of RJMEC.
Noting that the “National Dialogue conference is a part of the concerted efforts towards finding solutions for the sustainable peace in this country”, Ambassador Kebede told the gathering:
“We must therefore all agree that the inclusion and recognition of the voices of the diverse peoples of South Sudan is of utmost importance to the peaceful future of this country.”
Referring to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), he continued:
“I would like to say that the vision of the Revitalised Peace Agreement – to lay “the foundation for a united, peaceful and prosperous society based on justice, equality, respect for human rights and the rule of law”– is truly laudable. I urge the National Dialogue to support the achievement of this goal through whatever ways they can, not least in the sharing of their knowledge and experience they have gained in their work. Their recommendations at the end of this conference will be of particular interest and it is RJMEC’S hope that those recommendations will bond well with the R-ARCSS.”
In particular, Ambassador Kebede drew attention to Chapters Five and Six of the R-ARCSS in his remarks.
“As we continue to implement the Agreement in this Transitional Period, we should appreciate just how the voices of the entire spectrum of South Sudanese society are so important and critical in the implementation. Chapter 5 on Transitional Justice, is essential to atone for crimes committed during the dark days of conflict - the “untold human suffering” that the agreement acknowledges. In this regard, expeditious establishment of the three Transitional Justice institutions will be a great leap forward and RTGoNU support on this matter is critical.”
Ambassador Kebede added: “Furthermore, Chapter 6 of the Agreement on establishing the Permanent Constitution is vital, as it will lay a critical fundamental foundation for enduring peace in South Sudan. The Preamble of the Revitalised Peace Agreement duly recognises that the Parties to the Agreement are “determined to compensate our people by recommitting ourselves to peace and constitutionalism and not to repeat mistakes of the past.” Therefore, ensuring that the Permanent Constitution is a true reflection of all South Sudan’s peoples’ views of which is of paramount importance.”
“When the Constitution-making process is fully underway, reaching communities at grass-root level and understanding the perspectives of all peoples of South Sudan, irrespective of their backgrounds or political beliefs and affiliations, will be a critical ingredient in establishing the solid foundation that Chapter 6 intends to lay.”
Ambassador Kebede began his remarks by thanking H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, for steering the peace process to this point so far, noting that throughout the process, his leadership has been evident, and that the people of South Sudan have stood alongside their leaders in the demand for sustainable peace and the full implementation of the Agreement.
[ENDS]
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) expresses its concern at fighting in the Yei River area, reportedly caused by the defection of a General from the SPLM/A-IO to the SSPDF. Furthermore, RJMEC strongly condemns all loss of life and displacement of civilians, and urges the parties involved to come swiftly to the table and resolve any issues through dialogue. In this regard, we commend the ongoing efforts of the Joint Defence Board to investigate the issue and avoid the repetition of such incidents in the future.
Whether it is referred to as ‘defection’ or ‘change of allegiance’, the important point is that the Revitalised Peace Agreement in South Sudan has made commendable progress in the past two years since its signing and this must not be allowed to weaken because of instability caused by defections or accepting defections, which is contrary to the letter and spirit of the Agreement.
The joint training centre at Moroto, which was also the scene of some fighting in recent days, is one of 18 functioning training centres in South Sudan. Each training centre is a symbol of the unity which is being forged through creating a unified national army, and any threat to this is reprehensible. In this regard, I have requested CTSAMVM to investigate and report on its findings.
Whatever the source or driver of instability, RJMEC reminds all parties that the diplomatic architecture exists to manage all issues peacefully. In addition to the Revitalised Peace Agreement of 2018, there is the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of December 2017, the Rome Declaration of January 2020 and the Rome Resolution of February 2020, all of which affirm the signatories’ commitment to pursue dialogue and the protection of civilians.
As South Sudan moves into its third year of implementation of the R-ARCSS, it is clear that much remains to be done in a short time. RJMEC condemns any action by any party which detracts from the important work of peacebuilding in the country, and joins all other voices in urging constructive dialogue.
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Communication Office
PRESS RELEASE
(For Immediate Publication)
Wednesday, 30 September 2020, Juba, South Sudan
RJMEC INTERIM CHAIR TELLS MEETING OF RJMEC MEMBERS: URGENTLY RESOLVE THE IMPASSE IN UPPER NILE STATE; AND FURTHER UNIFICATION OF FORCES
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) held its 14thmonthly meeting in Juba on Wednesday 30 September, 2020.
Speaking during the opening session of the meeting, RJMEC Interim Chairperson Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Charles Tai Gituai said: “To date, nine out of the ten State governors have been appointed, but the position of the governor of the state of Upper Nile is still outstanding.”
He continued: “There, an SPLM/A-IO nominee is to be appointed the Governor. However, their candidate was rejected by the President, and unfortunately, both sides have not changed their respective positions.”
As such, the Interim Chairperson called for an urgent resolution of the impasse by the political leadership. Furthermore, the Interim Chairperson has called for the reconstitution of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) as per Article 1.14.2 of the Revitalised Peace Agreement.
“I urge that the Parliament be expanded and reconstituted without any further delay,” he added.
In his address, Maj. General Gituai also raised concerns that the unification of forces and reorganisation into the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) is behind schedule.
He said: “Although tens of thousands of troops reported to the cantonment sites and training centres, the conditions in which they exist are austere, with numerous reports of troops leaving them in search of food.”
In his recommendations, the Chairperson urged the RTGoNU to expedite and complete the unification of forces, and produce the plans for the redeployment of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF).
He also emphasised that the “overall implementation of the Resource, Economic and Financial Management provisions in Chapter 4 of the Revitalised Agreement has been slow.” Furthermore, he added, there is need to expedite Public Financial Management reforms to ensure the accountable and transparent management of resources.
In concluding his address, Maj. Gen Gituai said: “The path to sustainable peace is never easy,” while calling on the RTGoNU “to ensure full implementation of the Agreement provisions and bring South Sudan further and faster down the road to enduring and sustainable peace.”
FULL STATEMENT IS ATTACHED
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Communication Office
PRESS RELEASE
(For Immediate Publication)
Thursday, 17 September 2020, Juba, South Sudan
SOUTH SUDANESE OWNERSHIP OF DDR PROCESS IS CRUCIAL SAYS RJMEC INTERIM CHAIRPERSON; ADDS “REQUIRES A HOLISTIC AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO SUCCEED”.
The Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) convened a joint National Transitional Committee (NTC) and DDR (Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration) coordination meetingon Thursday 17 September 2020 in Juba.
While speaking during the opening session of the meeting, RJMEC Interim Chairperson H.E. Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai said, “Without doubt, it is important that the DDR Commission catches up meaningfully because DDR process is a complex, lengthy, and costly undertaking. Consequently, it must be effectively managed, funded, and supported.”
Furthermore, he added, “South Sudanese ownership of the DDR process is crucial and requires a holistic and comprehensive approach if it is to succeed.”
The meeting brought together the Transitional Security Mechanisms, representatives from the AU, UN, Civil Society among other stakeholders. The meeting was intended, among other things, to recognise and address the importance of DDR as a National RTGoNU responsibility, to review the current status of the Republic of South Sudan DDR process, to identify priorities, methods of improving coordination between all stakeholders, and to identify and address the challenges in implementation of the DDR process.
Gen. Gituai said responsibility (of ensuring that the DDR process succeeds) lies with the RTGoNU (Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity), noting that “a well-coordinated DDR process, of which the relevant levels of government are clearly committed to, is potentially able to attract international funding to support activities.”
“But for that to happen, clear signals must be sent that the DDR process is functioning as it should, and that most importantly, that it provides real opportunities for ex-combatants as they return peacefully to civilian life,” he said.
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