CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN

JMEC PLENARY MEETING

19 October 2016

JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN

Excellencies, Honorable Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen;

I thank you all for your commitment to the peace process demonstrated by your efforts to date;

I encourage all members to use this forum as a platform for frank and honest conversation in support of the peace process;

Most importantly, I greatly appreciate the comprehensive presentation and briefing by the TGoNU provided to us by Hon. Martin Elia Lumoro. I look forward to continuing this welcome spirit of cooperation with JMEC;

Excellencies, Honorable Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen;

I am confident that our meeting today has achieved its objectives, namely;

• We have all given a resounding demonstration of our commitment to the peace agreement and reaffirmed our willingness to welcome back all parties who want to resume full implementation of the peace process;
• We have received a comprehensive briefing from the TGoNU on the progress that has been made to date, identified outstanding tasks, and the TGoNU has assured us of its commitment to implement all pending tasks. The Minister has also agreed to provide JMEC members with the revised timeline and implementation schedule;
• We have received a detailed briefing on the current humanitarian situation and welcomed the efforts being made to improve access and bolster assistance;
• We have also received reports and updates from all the boards and commissions reporting to JMEC and now fully appreciate their challenges, tasks ahead and the need for our collective support, led by the TGoNU to ensure their full reconstitution and operationalization in the days, weeks and months ahead;

The following therefore, are in my opinion the major outcomes of this plenary;

• Reaffirmed our commitment that peace is the only way forward for South Sudan;
• Taken note of the efforts of the TGoNU to implement the ARCSS and its commitment to share a revised timeline and implementation schedules;
• Further, we have taken note of the TGoNU Humanitarian Action Plan and the establishment of the Oversight Committee to improve access and we acknowledge calls upon further assistance;
• We have welcomed the willingness and readiness of the international community, partners and friends of South Sudan to support the TGoNU if further progress is made in adherence to the Agreement;
• Observed that the current peace process is essentially functional but that it should be made more inclusive in accordance with the Agreement, and in particular the TGoNU might reach out with greater effort and maintain an open door to all parties who renounce violence, and are willing to re-join the peace process;
• Condemned all elements and groups fighting in different parts of the country or calling for armed resistance and called upon all the Parties and armed groups to cease hostilities and re-join the peace process;
• Encouraged the expeditious deployment of the Regional Protection Force (RPF) to guarantee a neutral, secure and stable environment, and welcomed the readiness of the TGoNU to provide a detailed briefing to the JMEC at the next plenary.

I thank you