Parties Urged to Clarify Next Steps for Peace Agreement

By Ginaba Lino 

The Chairperson of reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) is urging the signatories to the revitalized agreement to urgently consider the report of the high-level standing committee and provide clarity for the next steps.

Last month the High-Level Committee submitted their report to the Presidency with speculation that it could push the election scheduled to take place in December.

Ambassador Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, RJMEC Interim Chairperson says lack of adequate elections preparedness and slow progress in the unification of forces as anxiety among the population of South Sudan created worries among the mechanisms.

“Complete the redeployment of the unified forces, including the unification of the mid-level command echelon, and commence phase II training,” RJMEC Chair states.

Amb. Gituai encouraged the parties to provide the Institutions and mechanisms with the requisite resources and logistics to enable them to discharge their mandate.

“With barely five months left before elections as scheduled in the Roadmap, the lack of adequate elections preparedness and lack of progress in the unification of forces is causing anxiety among the population of South Sudan, which is already under pressure from the current difficult economic situation.”

Tai regrets the intercommunal violence happening in Unity, Jonglei and Lakes State continue to be concerning, although the permanent Ceasefire continues to hold.

“In Central Equatoria State, CTSAMVM reports indicate an increase in the abduction of youth allegedly by NAS Gen. Thomas Cirillo,” He adds.

The Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General Mr. Guang Cong, states that UN and other peace partners are looking forward to urgent determinations by the parties on the way forward regarding the alignment of the Tumaini Initiative and the Revitalized Peace Agreement.

“We look forward to urgent determinations by the parties on the way forward regarding the alignment of the Tumaini Initiative and the Revitalized Peace Agreement, and providing clarity on the implementation of the remaining outstanding tasks in the Roadmap.”

Cong adds that with five months left as announced by the National Election Commission, the technical and operational progress in electoral preparations and constitution-making remains minimal.

“With only five months left until elections as announced by the National Election

Commission, technical and operational progress in electoral preparations and constitution-making remains minimal.”

He emphasizes on the recent passing of the National Security Service Bill, citing that it has generated concerns about civic, political space and personal liberties.

The Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General calls on President Salva Kiir to consider those concerns and provide clear directives on the way forward as soon as possible.

“The recent passing of the National Security Service Bill has generated concerns about civic, political space and personal liberties. In this regard, we encourage the President to consider those concerns and provide clear directives on the way forward as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile the representative of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) Elia Martin Lomoro highlights some progress on the 2018 peace agreement as well as the Tumaini Initiative.

Lomoro States that, the high level standing committee have complete its analysis status and agreed on the way forward which is every parties to the agreement to provide its own version on the way forward.

He adds that he is not able to provide details because it is subject of discussion by the president on date 14 next week.

The objective of the Nairobi peace talk was to identify areas where the non-signatories felt concerned and which areas would have made them to withdraw from the R-ARCSS, said Elia.