The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has asked the South Sudan media to promote cooperation and peaceful co-existence among citizens for effective implementation of the Revitalized peace Agreement.

The National Constitutional Amendment Committee  (NCAC) has on Thursday handed over the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan, 2011 (Amendment) (N0.6) Bill, 2019 to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs as per the requirements of Articles 1.18.1.1and 1.18.6of the Revitalized Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. This is a Bill for an Act to Amend the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011(as amended) to incorporate the Revitalized Agreement signed on 12 September 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It takes into consideration all five (5) previous amendments to the Constitution.

As the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement approaches a crucial period, the disengagement, cantonment and unification of armed forces in the Republic of South Sudan will be a “decisive milestone”, the Interim Chairperson of the reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) has said.

In a statement (READ STATEMENT HERE: https://www.jmecsouthsudan.org/index.php/jmec-statements/item/404-statement-by-h-e-lt-gen-augostino-s-k-njoroge-interim-chairperson-of-the-reconstituted-joint-monitoring-evaluation-commission-to-the-3rd-rjmec-monthly-meeting-1-wednesday-23-january-2019-juba-south-sudan) delivered during the opening of the 3rdPlenary of the reconstituted JMEC in Juba on Wednesday, Ambassador Lt. Gen. Augostino Njoroge said, 

“It is very important that all the armed forces of South Sudan are unified. With the rapid approach of the Transitional period, their unification will be a decisive milestone for this agreement, which is why no effort should be spared in achieving this.” 

He added, “I expect that the work of the security institutions and mechanisms will quickly gather momentum, and that practical steps shall be taken to expedite the disengagement, cantonment and unification of forces.”

On mobilization of resources to support an uninterrupted implementation of the agreement, Ambassador Njoroge said, 

“It is (for) the National Pre-transitional Committee and the incumbent Transitional Government of National Unity to take the lead in mobilizing all requisite resources for implementation, establish effective mechanisms for disbursing funds, and support the other mechanisms of the Agreement to carry out their tasks without delay.”

“We continue our outreach to the donor community in the search for funds to support implementation, and we reiterate our heartfelt thanks for those who have already made contributions, be it financially or in–kind,” he said.

Honourable Ministers, 

Excellencies, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1.    I would like to start by welcoming you to the third RJMEC monthly meeting, and to wish all of you a happy new year.

2.    We begin 2019 with our goals clear to us, and with the degree of consensus marked by the signing of the Revitalized Agreement enduring. What we must ensure we do is achieve our goals in a timely, transparent and cooperative manner.

3.  2019 is a year in which so much is expected for South Sudan. This year will see the end of the Pre–Transitional period, as well as the beginning of the Transitional period.

4.    These are major events, which if conducted as planned, will lay the foundations of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity, and are critical milestones in the implementation of the Peace Agreement for South Sudan.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

5.    I will divide my statement broadly into three sections. In the first section I will address some issues that arose from the last Plenary, while in the second I will reflect on progress and challenges that are not covered in the first section. The statement will then close with my expectations for the coming period.

6.    There were some pressing issues identified at the last Plenary that I wish to elaborate on now.

7.    When we last met, we discussed the issue of the establishment of the Technical Boundaries Committee, the TBC, and the Independent Boundaries Commission, the IBC.

8.    I can now confirm that the Technical Boundaries Committee has been constituted and has begun its work. It is on a tight schedule, but at least its capable members are in place and have begun work.

9.    This is not yet the case for the Independent Boundaries Commission, and I therefore urge that the final nominations are made by the African Union C5. Ihave sent an official letter to the IGAD Special Envoy in this regard.

10.  In both cases, the timeframes are clear. These mechanisms begin their specified period of time from the moment of their establishment. According to the TBC Terms of Reference, endorsed by the IGAD Special Envoy, its 60 days period began on 9 January 2019.

11.  Next, the South Sudan Opposition Alliance. At the last Plenary, we discussed the issue of the split within the leadership of the SSOA. The approach taken by the RJMEC Secretariat has been to individually invite the different SSOA leaders for discussion with myself and my senior team, and two constructive consultations have taken place so far. 

12.  Once I have a full appreciation and understanding of the case, I will take it to the office of the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, who will mediate. At the next Plenary meeting, I hope to have more information on this development. 

13. It should be made clear to all leaders of SSOA that what we have achieved so far must be well guarded, and that we must not let our unity of purpose fragment through absence of dialogue.

14. It is in the interests of the members of SSOA and the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement for leaders of SSOA to maintain their unity and integrity to ensure the effective participation of their constituency in the political process.

15. Next, with regard to the National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC). It was agreed that a sub–committee composed of the Parties to the Agreement (incumbent TGoNU, SPLM/A–IO, SSOA, FDs and OPP) be established to resolve a disagreement on the description of the system of government as provided for in Article 1(4) of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan (2011), as amended.

16. The contention was whether to describe the system of governance during the Pre–Transitional and Transitional periods as either ‘decentralized’ or ‘devolved.’ 

17. I am happy to report that the sub–committee met on Monday 21st January 2019 and arrived at a decision which will be tabled shortly for ratification. The committee concluded that the proper description of the system of government envisaged by the R–ARCSS for the Pre-Transitional and Transitional Periods remain a decentralized system with an explicit obligation on the Revitalized TGoNU to devolve more powers and resources to the States and lower levels of government.

18. Finally, an update on reaching out to the non–signatories, as was mentioned at the last Plenary. The IGAD Special Envoy has met with General Thomas Cirilo of the National Salvation Front on a few occasions, and he has also met with General Paul Malong of the South Sudan United Front. There is no particular outcome to report yet; however, I have requested that the Special Envoy provide me with the latest update on the way forward on this matter.

19. I am concerned to learn from CTSAMVM’s report from their sixth Technical Meeting, which was published yesterday, that General Thomas Cirilo is not observing the terms of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement that he signed in December 2017. I urge General Cirilo to reconsider his decision not to join the Revitalized Peace Agreement, and I call on him to engage constructively in the political process. Furthermore, I urge all Parties to observe the permanent ceasefire.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

20. I will now move along to the second part of my statement, reflections on developments since the last Plenary.

21. When we met last in December, we reflected on the pace and momentum that we had. Now that we have just gone past the half–way mark of the Pre–Transitional period, it is fair to assess where this pace and momentum has taken us because with progress comes expectations.

22. To start with, the National Pre–Transitional Committee (NPTC). I thank Honourable Minister Lomuro for the meeting we held together since the last Plenary. I am pleased to say the NPTC’s commendable support to the representatives of the opposition parties returning to Juba, both in terms of transportation, security clearance and accommodation, continues.

23. I thank the NPTC for sending me their report, and I commend them for their regular schedule of meetings. I note with concern that not all the essential funds pledged have been released, but I am encouraged to learn that the budgets and workplans for the Agreement institutions and mechanisms have been received. We will hear the NPTC report shortly.  

24. Most of the Agreement institutions and mechanisms have been reconstituted or established and are operational.  However, the IBC and the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Commission are yet to be established and reconstituted respectively. 

25. Under Article 2.4.9 of the Agreement, the DDR Commission should be reconstituted within 30 days following the signing of the R-ARCSS. I urge the NPTC and the incumbent TGONU to be seized of this matter and expedite its reconstitution.

26. I would like to express to all Chairpersons of the Agreement institutions and mechanisms that meetings should produce detailed, realistic, and implementable work plans, which should be operationalized as a matter of urgency.

27.  I understand from the NCAC that they have made good progress with reviewing the security laws, and we will hear more from the NCAC Chairman shortly. 

28. I was encouraged by the Joint Defence Board's decision last week to visit and assess potential sites for pilot cantonments in Yei, Panyume and Moroto. I would like to hear more about the outcomes of the JDB visit, as well as progress made so far by all security mechanisms in their work.

29. However, I am unhappy to hear of field commanders who continue to obstruct verification of forces by CTSAMVM as required by the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements.

30. The JDB is the supreme organ responsible for spearheading the transitional security institutions and mechanisms, and I expect the JDB to take strong action against commanders who impede the process of verification of troops and the work of CTSAMVM.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

31. There is a common refrain from a range of Agreement institutions and mechanisms, which relates to lack of funding. While I sympathize, I reiterate the point I made in my last statement.

32. That is: it is the NPTC and the incumbent TGoNU who should take the lead in mobilizing all requisite resources for implementation, establish effective mechanisms for disbursing funds, and support the other mechanisms of the Agreement to carry out their tasks without delay.

33. Meanwhile, we continue our outreach to the donor community in the search for funds to support implementation, and we reiterate our heartfelt thanks for those who have already made contributions, be it financially or in–kind.

34. There can never be enough funds, so I can only counsel to do what you can with what you have while additional support is sought. This country and its people have shown great resilience over the years. This resolve will help negotiate the challenges of the coming period.

35. However, I would call on the government to provide funding from its meagre resources to facilitate implementation of the peace agreement, especially for the transitional security mechanisms.

 Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

36. There are two issues of utmost importance I wish to highlight. Firstly, the cases of alleged rapes in Bentiu. The outcome of the investigations needs reporting clearly and publicly. The passing of time does not lessen the pain of the crimes alleged, nor does it diminish the injustice in our collective memories.  

37. The Republican Order 25/2018, which set up the investigation into this case, was issued on 19 December 2018, and allowed up to 21 working days to report back to the President, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit. Therefore, we judge that the report is due imminently. We therefore expect to hear the outcomes of this investigation as soon as possible.

38. I am dismayed to hear that more reports of rape have recently come to light from just outside Bentiu. They are alleged to have taken place on 7 January 2019. The CTSAMVM chairman will cover this in his report today. 

39. Secondly, the denial of access for CTSAMVM. We can only evaluate and assess progress in implementation through the flow of information and the objective verification of reported incidents, and so CTSAMVM needs unrestricted access.

40. We note that a Monitoring and Verification Team (MVT) was blocked on 8 January by the National Security Service at the Luri checkpoint when attempting to visit Gorom to complete the investigation on the reported incident in Tishoro on 3 January.

41. By the same token, an MVT was blocked on 9 January by an IO commander around Leer when attempting the verification of a SPLM/A–IO Brigade. Neither of these access denial examples is acceptable.

42. Worse still is the appalling and disturbing incident which took place in Luri on 18 December 2018, which greatly surpassed the act of access denial and raised very serious questions.

43.  Despite my request and reminders to the incumbent TGoNU, we at RJMEC have not received a response. This is a matter of great concern, and should be given high priority. Action is needed and I call upon the investigators to report their findings and let justice take its course in a full and transparent manner.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

44. In the area of humanitarian affairs, the UN and its partners have released the Humanitarian Response Plan for 2019. It shows that an estimated 7.1 million people will be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2019. However, on a positive note, OCHA reports fewer access impediments in December, compared to the previous months. I hope this trend of decline continues.  

45.  I am made to understand that the meetings of the Humanitarian High–Level Oversight Committee as established by the 2016 Presidential Decree 23, and the Humanitarian Coordination Forum, have not taken place for some time now. I suggest that they are resumed as soon as possible.  

46. In regard to the economy, I am pleased to report that improved management of oil revenues has contributed to increased economic stability. The financial framework for the current budget year has been designed to avoid deficits and keep public expenditure stable, even in the event of a large decline in the oil price. 

47. Non–oil revenues account for a quarter of total revenues in the present budget, and I welcome the significant improvements in revenue collection reported by Customs. Increased non–oil revenues will make public finances more resilient to volatile oil prices.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

48. I would like to include a word on gender mainstreaming. I understand that there have been struggles in meeting the required quotas of women in the Agreement institutions and mechanisms.

49. In many cases, the numbers fall well below what is required by the Revitalized Agreement. This is chiefly a problem with the Parties to the agreement; civil society has shown itself more able to meet this requirement. However, including gender expertise and perspective in the work of the agreement institutions and mechanisms is still possible even if not enough women are represented. 

50. I would observe that there are indeed women in the political parties that make up the Parties to this agreement. So, looking to the future, the Parties should promote the inclusion and meaningful participation of women at the policy and decision-making level through longer term capacity building.

51. I would like to add that the RJMEC Secretariat is developing a proposal for reconstituting the JMEC Working Committees that were employed to good effect during the previous agreement. Doing so will enhance our ability to conduct oversight of the Agreement’s implementation in an inclusive and participatory manner.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

52. Beyond the reporting and action on the investigations into the cases just mentioned in Bentiu and Luri, my expectations for the coming period are as follows.

53. I expect that the work of the security institutions and mechanisms will quickly gather momentum, and that practical steps shall be taken to expedite the disengagement, cantonment and unification of forces.

54. It is very important that all the armed forces of South Sudan are unified. With the rapid approach of the Transitional period, their unification will be a decisive milestone for this agreement, which is why no effort should be spared in achieving this.

55. I also expect the establishment and reconstitution of pending institutions and mechanisms without further delay, namely the DDR Commission and the IBC. 

56. I expect full observation and compliance with the permanent ceasefire, leading to an improvement in the security situation throughout the country to facilitate the return of refugees and internally displaced persons.

57. Finally, I expect that the incumbent TGoNU, with the support from our regional and international partners, will provide whatever resources that can be made available to support the uninterrupted implementation of the Agreement.

58. I wish all of us fruitful deliberations today, and I look forward to a progressive 2019. 

59. I thank you.

By Amb. Lt. Gen. Augostino Njoroge

Saturday 12thJanuary 2019 marked the half–way stage of the 8–month–long Pre–Transitional period of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R–ARCSS), a date which falls just as we gear up for a busy and important year (2019). This is the year where, with God’s help and the hard work of everyone, we lay the foundations for a lasting peace in South Sudan. 

As we end one year and begin another, it is natural to take stock of where we are. Accordingly, we should all understand that much has been achieved since the signing of the R–ARCSS on 12thSeptember 2018. By the same token, let us not overlook the fact that even reaching the level of consensus required for it to be signed was in itself a tremendous achievement.

We at the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) are duty–bound to keep our fingers close to the pulse of progress. Progress is a difficult quantity to measure, but it is the currency we are dealing in, and it is the thing that we are all striving for. Make no mistake, we have it. To have a designated site for cantonment of forces in Yei River State is a very positive step, given the supreme importance of the unification of forces to sustainable peace.

At this half way stage of the Pre–Transitional period, we observe that there are twin challenges of time and funding. Having not enough of either is a worry that might well increase in the coming months.

However, we must do what we can with what we have and approach the tasks in a spirit of cooperation and positivity. This is something I am pleased to say I have observed. The degree of consensus marked by the signing of the Revitalized Agreement endures. It is the spirit of cooperation and positivity which governs how the implementation of the R–ARCSS is conducted. Without it, we have nothing, no matter how much time or funding there may be. 

So while we benefit from having that, we must be mindful of our need to protect it, and we must turn our attention to the rest of the tasks because with progress comes expectations. 

When we at JMEC call for the redoubling of efforts, it is from our position as custodian of the Agreement. Highlighting lack of progress or singling out proven violation is part of our tasks, and we are equally duty bound to lay the blame at the appropriate door. On behalf of the South Sudanese people, we will not shy away from calling for any given Party to perform their agreed duty to the highest standard.

We commend the recent steps taken to try and bring non–signatories into the fold of the Agreement, since continued incidents of violence, where they occur, commonly involve them. The signatories to the Agreement are observing the terms of the permanent ceasefire, which is very much to their credit. I must also say that the capital, Juba, has been commendably peaceful in the recent past. 

However, the non–signatories should not be seen simply as a convenient scapegoat for all incidents. For example, there is the need for a full and impartial investigation into the loss of 19 lives at Gorom, west of Juba, on 2ndJanuary. The loss of any life is an affront to the spirit of safety and dignity the Agreement seeks to embed nationwide. 

While the senseless prevention of the monitoring and verification body, CTSAMVM, from carrying out its essential work through mere blocking is one thing, the assault which took place at Luri on 18thDecember 2018 is another altogether. 

We can only evaluate and assess progress through the flow of information and the objective verification of reported incidents. To block the conduct of this process and, even worse, assault, the verification team is completely unacceptable. 

This incident should also be seen in light of the fact that the verification team members involved are military professionals from South Sudan’s neighbouring countries who came here to assist in bringing sustainable peace to the Republic of South Sudan. 

The tasks required by the implementation matrix of the R–ARCSS are not uniformly distributed among the Parties to the Agreement. Some parties must shoulder substantial parts of the work, while others seemingly less so. However, it is all proportional to what was agreed, and areas that need extra work must be remedied by those who are particularly responsible for it. JMEC stands ready to support the Agreement Parties in undertaking their tasks.

These are the responsibilities of leadership that we are compelled to undertake. Although the component parts of the Agreement may be delivered by different groups, the success of the process depends on all of us playing our parts, and hence it is our collective duty to deliver it. 

I wish you all a successful and constructive 2019. We at JMEC will continue to be unfailing in our mandate.

The author is the Interim Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC).

Communication Office

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Thursday, 20 December 2018, Juba, South Sudan   

RJMEC CONDEMNS ASSAULT ON CTSAMVM TEAM IN LURI

RJMEC strongly condemns the assault on the CTSAMVM team in the area of Luri Training Center on 18 December 2018. Three international members of CTSAMVM’s Monitoring and Verification Team and their driver were denied access to the Luri Training Centre and they were arbitrarily detained, robbed of their money and valuables, blinded folded , handcuffed  and physically assaulted by members of the National Security Service. 

The assault on the team incuding a female member is appalling and unacceptable. The anger and disappointment this incident provokes is compounded by the fact it is entirely contrary to the letter and spirit of the hard-won peace agreement upon which so many South Sudanese people are relying.

It goes without saying that the work of CTSAMVM is critical for the success of the peace agreement. It is a mechanism consisting of brave and committed South Sudanese and international staff who monitor and verify that the ceasefire is holding and the transitional security arrangements are proceeding as required. Without CTSAMVM’s vital and constructive service, we would lack the facts needed to be able to talk of peace in South Sudan.

We expect that a full and transparent investigation is conducted immediately by the Government, and that the perpetrators will face the full force of the law. We also expect that the Government will take the necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such kinds of violations as the South Sudan’s peace continues to take root. We honour the ongoing bravery and commitment of CTSAMVM by refusing to allow this incident to shake our commitment to peace in South Sudan.

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has on Wednesday held its second plenary in Juba.

Communication Office

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Wednesday, 12 December 2018, Juba, South Sudan            

RECONSTITUTED JMEC SECOND PLENARY HELD IN JUBA

The second Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) Plenary took place on Wednesday 12 December 2018. Following the reconstitution of JMEC in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last month, it was commendable that Juba was the venue for this Plenary. 

Interim Chairperson Lt. Gen Ambassador Njoroge welcomed the Plenary participants, telling them that “ending the suffering of the people of South Sudan is not a soundbite to be repeated endlessly – it is the most legitimate goal we aspire to.” 

The general progress and momentum of the implementation of the Peace Agreement was appreciated throughout the day. The role of the National Pre–Transitional Committee (NPTC) was emphasized, with the Interim Chairperson describing it as “an institution from which much is expected and will require our collective support.” 

There was also commendable progress reported on the establishment or reconstitution of all the transitional security arrangement mechanisms, which met for the first time in Khartoum at the end of November to take the initial steps of their work. 

Interim Chairperson Njoroge added: “I cannot stress enough the importance of these security institutions, especially the Joint Defence Board (JDB). While meeting within the confines of Juba or another regional capital is one thing, the complete silencing of guns throughout the entire country is needed for us to be able to talk of sustainable peace.”  

The Interim Chairman closed his statement with his hopes and expectations for the coming period. He said: “The establishment and operationalization of the different agreement institutions and mechanisms should be expedited and completed without delay. I expect that we will commence the New Year at full capacity and use every single day to compensate for lost time.” 

It is also the hope of the Interim Chairperson that the cases of alleged rape in Benitu are investigated by the government and CTSAMVM and that the perpetrators are brought to swift justice. 

In his final remark in his statement, the Interim Chairperson appealed to the participants. “Christmas is a season for goodwill, and I call upon all Parties to continue reaching out to one another, engage in more confidence building measures, and I also appeal for any prisoners of war and political detainees not yet released to be freed.”

ENDS

The Technical Boundaries Committee (TBC) has on Thursday held its inaugural meeting in the South Sudan capital, Juba.

The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) on Wednesday said it is “extremely saddened and outraged” by the reports of rape and sexual assaults against women and girls, which allegedly occurred at Bentiu town, Rubkona County, in Unity State that occurred last week.