• Hon Dr. Abraham Korir SingOei CBS, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Government of Kenya;

·     H.E. Lt. Gen Lazarous Sumbeiywo (rtd), Chief Mediator;

·     Paolo Impagliazzo, Secertary General of the Community of Sant’Egidio and Co-Mediator;

·     H.E. Ismail Wais, IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan; 

·     Head of Government Delegation;

·     Head of Delegation, South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance;

·     Excellencies;

·     Honourable Members; 

·     Distinguished        Guests;

·     Ladies and Gentlemen.

1.   Good morning. Hujambo nyote. Greetings to all of you. Karibuni Kenya. Welcome to Kenya! 

2.   It is a great honour and privilege for me to address you in my capacity as the Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), the official oversight, monitoring and evaluation body of the Revitalized Peace Agreement. 

3.   At the outset, RJMEC wishes to congratulate the Government of Kenya, the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) and the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA) for all efforts that have enabled the launching of the South Sudan High Level Mediation Process in Nairobi today. This gathering is a commendable demonstration of commitment by all that peace can only be achieved through a sustained dialogue, inclusivity and consensus building, which is an intrinsic acceptable process rather than  violence. 

4.   In this regard, I commend His Excellency Dr William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya for accepting to facilitate this dialogue following the request from His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan; and the leadership of South Sudan Opposition Alliance SSOMA for accepting this dialogue in an effort to find durable peace in the Republic of South Sudan. 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,  

5.        I wish to commend the mediation team from the Revitalised Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) led by Ambassador Albino Mathem for their commitment and continued search for an all-inclusive peace in South Sudan from the time that these negotiations commenced in Rome. I also wish to commend the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA) groups for their acceptance to continue to dialogue and accepting to come to the IGAD region in cognizance of the importance of regional support to these talks by embracing Nairobi as the venue for these deliberations.

6.   These talks build on seven rounds of the Rome Peace Process, led by the Community of Sant ’Egidio and IGAD, held between January 2020 and March 2023 which yielded some positive outcomes, including the recommitment to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and Declaration of Principles. 

7.    It is RJMEC’s expectation that these talks will further the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement and usher the country into an inclusive, peaceful and democratic end to the Transitional Period. Since the signing of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution to the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in 2018, South Sudan has experienced 5½ years of relative peace, despite sporadic skirmishes and communal fighting that continues to occur in several parts of the country. However, it is important to note that Permanent Ceasefire continues to hold between the Parties to the Agreement. This relative peace compared to previous years before 2018, is a commendable achievement and needs to be further consolidated. These talks are therefore a positive step and an opportunity in which the outcome could lead towards attainment of sustainable peace in South Sudan.

8.   RJMEC, as the official oversight, monitoring and evaluation body established under Chapter VII of the Agreement, is cognisant of the status of implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, particularly regarding the Transitional Security Arrangements, elections preparation, the permanent constitution making process, and processes of truth, reconciliation and healing. 

9.   It is RJMEC’s view that the success of the South Sudan Mediation Process in Nairobi will come out with a framework of inclusivity, address the differences and bring a clear way forward that would enhance the peace process. Additionally, this success would build a momentum for the implementation of the remaining pending tasks of the R-ARCSS, towards the achievement of the lasting peace and stability in South Sudan.  

10.    With many critical tasks still pending implementation, against the backdrop of the fast-approaching end of the Transition Period as per the Agreement Roadmap, RJMEC has continued to encourage the Parties to the Agreement to ensure that implementation of these tasks is expedited and completed in order to lay a firm foundation for South Sudan’s transition to a democratically elected government. 

11.    As I conclude my remarks, I would like to underscore that the main expectation of the people of South Sudan is that your positive and constructive engagements here in Nairobi will galvanize and bolster the peace efforts already underway in South Sudan. A positive conclusion to this mediation process will no doubt empower the country’s reconciliation process, bring about enabling environment for national development and will contribute to durable peace, justice, liberty and prosperity to the people of South Sudan.  

12.    I therefore wish you fruitful engagements during this peace mediation.  

I Thank You!