CEPO says disagreement over SPLA-IO cantonment areas causing insecurity
May 17, 2016 (JUBA) – Director for ?Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said there was grave disagreement over SPLA-IO’s cantonment areas in South Sudan, calling on the parties in the transitional government to cooperate and resolve the matter.
President Salva Kiir’s officials said there was no need to identify cantonment areas in Bahr el Ghazal and Equatoria regions, arguing that the opposition forces of the SPLM-IO under the leadership of the First Vice-President, Riek Machar, has no forces in the two regions.
CEPO however urged the transitional government to urgently resolve the issue pertaining to the cantonment of SPLA-IO forces in the country in order to rebuild confidence and trust within citizens.
CEPO issued the fourth oversight peace agreement implementation observation report on Monday, citing a number of non-compliance to various provisions of the peace agreement including transitional security arrangement and political issues associated with transitional constitutional amendment.
“Hardening the establishment of the cantonment areas has contributed in an increase of insecurity/banditry activities among the communities in locations such as Wau, Yei, Morobo, Kajo-keji and Juba-Bor road,” said CEPO in the statement.
In the report, CEPO also commended the formation of the transitional government of national unity as key milestone for rebuilding the citizen’s trust and confidence in the peace agreement but was discouraged on the slow progress of the implementation of some key provisions in the deal.
In reaction to the statement by the head of ceasefire and transitional security arrangement monitoring mechanism [CTSAMM], Gen. Molla Hailemariamm, on security arrangements, CEPO’s executive director Edmond Yakani urged government to response to the statement immediately in order to clear doubts in the mind of citizens.
Molla said on Friday during CTSAMM meeting that “CTSAMM is not in the position to declare completion of transitional security arrangements in Juba since the government has not declared its force.”
According to CEPO’s document, the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) should be straightly engaged in the peace agreement associated with setting up conducive environment for the peace implementation.
In that regards Yakani said “demonstrating actions that are disturbing need to be stopped.”
He cited actions such as threats of arrest to the CTSAMM monitors in Yambio town or elsewhere as discouraging and demoralizing the public trust and confidence in the peace agreement implementation.
CEPO urged the peace partners to comply with the peace agreement provisions effectively and timely.
It warned that dragging the peace agreement implementation has great implication on the citizens in terms of economic security and humanitarian affairs.
“Rescue the citizens from suffering by implementing the peace agreement effectively and timely,” he further stressed.
Details in the observatory document indicate that the most important provision of the agreement including setting up of the transitional parliament has not been effected although the president has appointed the lawmakers as required in the agreement.
“But the other political parties under the umbrella of national allies” disputed the manner the president appointed their parties members as parliamentarians.”
Also cited was the controversy over the twenty eight states, election of the speaker of the transitional parliament, the establishment of the national transitional independent institutions and commissions and formation of transitional state governments as dictated upon by the agreement.
(ST)