OPENING REMARKS

BY

H.E. LT. GEN. AUGOSTINO S.K. NJOROGE

INTERIM CHAIRPERSON 

OF THERECONSTITUTED JOINT 

MONITORING & EVALUATION COMMISSION

TO THE

FIRST EXTRAORDINARY RJMEC MEETING

Tuesday, 19 February 2019

JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN

Honourable Ministers, 

Excellencies, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning, 

1.   I would like to start by welcoming all of you to this first Extraordinary meeting of the RJMEC.

2.   My opening remarks this morning will be brief, and will set out how this meeting came to be convened, what its objectives are, and my expectations in that regard.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

3.   In the last meeting, I was requested to convene this meeting in view of “the serious financial constraints and other challenges impacting on the smooth implementation of the tasks and activities of the various agreement institutions and mechanisms, to discuss practical ways forward.” 

4.   There are two main issues to discuss today: funding and security arrangements. In particular, plans and progress regarding cantonment, training, and the unification of forces. In addition, how to expedite the reconstitution of the DDR Commission.   

5.   Firstly, funding. Over the course of the last few meetings, and in other consultations I have held with the various Agreement institutions and mechanisms, the issue of funding has loomed large in the discussions. 

6.   Secondly, security arrangements. We are all aware that security is an essential component of the Pre-Transitional period, and therefore understanding the progress of cantonment in particular would be beneficial to all. Are the sites fully designated? What resources are needed for cantonment’s successful and timely completion? 

7.   Our objective today, therefore, is to bring out into the open the discussions needed to push these questions more substantively towards being answered. Thus, I am very interested to hear what the NPTC and JDB tell us about the answers to some of these questions.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

8.   We at RJMEC have long been clear on funding. Our position is that the NPTC and the incumbent TGoNU 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. In this regard, RJMEC continues in its appeal to the partners and friends of South Sudan to support the implementation of the Agreement. 

9.   However, the more implementation of the peace agreement is owned by the people and government of South Sudan, the greater the chances of its success. 

10.  I have been equally clear about security arrangements. Ensuring that all the security institutions and mechanisms function in harmony is of critical importance, not least because of the imminent need to unify the forces.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

11.   I have several expectations for today’s meeting. I expect that the NPTC will set out clearly and concisely what its plans and budget are for the Pre-Transitional Period. I also expect that the JDB will present its strategy and plans for cantonment, training and unification of forces.

12.  Finally, I expect that we will have honest and frank conversations in order to address the identified challenges. 

Thank you.