South Sudan peace deal at risk as monitoring body warns AU of worsening crisis

South Sudan’s revitalised peace agreement is at risk of collapse due to worsening political and security tensions, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) warned while briefing the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) on Friday.

The Commission’s interim Chairperson, Maj Gen (Rtd) George Aggrey Owinow, said the deteriorating security situation and continued violations of the agreement risk a collapse of the permanent ceasefire unless urgent corrective measures are taken.

“As the official oversight body overseeing the implementation of the R-ARCSS, I wish to inform this Council that the political and security situation in South Sudan has continued to deteriorate, and the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement has been severely undermined,” he said.

According to RJMEC, the arrest, detention, and prosecution of the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny and other top SPLM/A-IO officials before an ad-hoc Special Court, and the unilateral removals and replacement of opposition nominated representatives from their various portfolios in the Executive of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) and the Transitional National Legislature at national and state levels continue, without consultation and consensus, which is eroding the power-sharing framework of the Revitalised Agreement for Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

The commission said that serious violations of the R-ARCSS continue unabated and there are growing incidents of armed clashes between the SSPDF and SPLA-IO in different parts of the country, including in Jonglei, Upper Nile, Unity, Western Bahr El Ghazal, Eastern Equatoria and Western Equatoria States, in clear breach of the Permanent Ceasefire.

According to reports from the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), the incidents of armed clashes have occurred in six out of the ten States and three administrative areas.

“These developments pose a serious threat of irretrievable breakdown of the Permanent Ceasefire between the SPLA-IO and the SSPDF if urgent steps are not taken to cease the current hostilities and resume dialogue at the highest political level,” he said.

At the same time, the commission noted that the humanitarian and economic situation continues to worsen, and is being exacerbated by the ongoing armed conflict, climate shocks, depreciation of the national currency, the SSP, and cross-border displacement from Sudan.

The commission called on the Parties to the Agreement to cease all forms of hostilities, embrace inclusive, genuine dialogue, re-activate the implementation mechanisms of the Agreement and fully adhere to the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements.

“RJMEC recommends to this Council the following urgent actions to restore the sanctity of the R-ARCSS and to encourage a return to its full implementation,” the Chairperson added.

RJMEC urged the PSC to assist the RTGoNU to resolve the current political and security impasse and secure the release of the First Vice President and all political detainees in order to facilitate meaningful dialogue and a return to the implementation of the R-ARCSS.

RJMEC also urged the leadership in Juba to desist from taking actions that further erode the political trust and confidence in the Revitalised Peace Agreement and ensure that the political disagreements are resolved through dialogue and disputes are addressed through the mechanisms of the R-ARCSS.

In support of the peace process, RJMEC also urged the PSC to mobilise and extend financial and logistical support to facilitate the expeditious implementation of the critical tasks of the R-ARCSS.

The Commission also called on the PSC to engage the RTGoNU with a view to expediting the establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan to investigate, and if necessary, prosecute those bearing responsibility for any crimes committed during this Transitional Period.

Source: https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/south-sudan/278230/south-sudan-peace-deal-at-risk-as-monitoring-body-warns-au-of-worsening-crisis