Expedite adoption of roadmap, RJMEC urges S. Sudan parties
July 21, 2022 (JUBA) – The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has urged South Sudan’s coalition government to expedite adoption of a roadmap for implementation of the peace deal.
The call was made by the Interim Chairperson of R-JMEC, Amb. Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai during the institution’s 23rd meeting on the status of peace implementation in South Sudan in the capital, Juba on Thursday.
Gituai said with seven months to the end of the transitional period in February 2023, “all critical tasks, including the constitution making process should have been completed and preparation for the conduct of elections should have been in high gear.”
“However, this is not the case. Critical tasks, including some pre-transitional tasks, like the unification of forces, are still pending,” he noted.
The Interim Chairperson of the peace monitoring body said welcomed the draft roadmap presented to President Salva Kiir on Friday last week.
“I understand that this draft will be discussed by the Presidency before being tabled to the Parties for consideration. Once adopted by the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), it will be presented to RJMEC,” he said.
A detailed roadmap is expected to ensure implementation of the remaining tasks, to facilitate a peaceful, free, fair and credible elections at the end of the transition period.
Further, Amb. Gituai acknowledged that since the unification of the command structure (in April), there has been a reduction in clashes between South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF)-allied elements and the SPLA-IO.
However, he said, “Despite the April agreement on a unified command structure, progress towards the graduation of the unified forces has stalled.”
“Nonetheless, I am encouraged by the recent statement of H.E. the President, that the Presidency will soon meet and set a date for the graduation of the unified forces,” he added.
Furthermore, the Interim Chair has commended the SSPDF leadership for the recently concluded Court Martial in Yei, Central Equatoria State that resulted in the trial and conviction of several soldiers for crimes committed against civilians such as murder, rape and looting, among others.
“It is important that all perpetrators of violence are held accountable,” he said.
In his recommendation, Amb. Gituai called on the RTGoNU to fast track the process for the consideration and adoption of the agreed final roadmap and to urgently set the date for the graduation and redeployment of the unified forces and the commencement of Phase 2 and the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) process.
Gituai said this critical phase of the implementation of the peace deal requires the collective efforts from members of the peace monitoring body.
“Let us seize this unique opportunity and proactively engage with the RTGoNU, propose remedial measures to overcome the challenges to the peace process, and facilitate progress,” he stressed.
(ST)