STATEMENT BY H.E. AMB. LT. GEN. AUGOSTINO S.K. NJOROGE INTERIM CHAIRPERSON, RJMEC TO THE 11th RJMEC MONTHLY MEETING WEDNESDAY, 27TH NOVEMBER 2019 JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning.
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I welcome all of you to the 11th RJMEC meeting. I would like to convey my apologies for the cancellation of the previously scheduled meetings, which were set for the 5th and 7th of November. At that time, events were moving fast with parallel initiatives taking place and were all demanding our attention.
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As you may recall, on the 7th of November, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda convened a Tripartite meeting in Entebbe, Uganda, which was attended by H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, H.E. Abdel Fatah al Burhan, President of the Transitional Sovereign Council of the Republic of Sudan, and Dr Riek Machar Teny, the Chairperson of SPLM/A-IO. Also in attendance was H.E. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Kenya’s Envoy to South Sudan.
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I am sure you are aware that the Tripartite meeting, among other things, agreed on an extension of the Pre-Transitional Period by 100 days to allow for the completion of the critical pending tasks, and agreed to establish a mechanism from the Guarantors and the Parties to supervise the implementation of the critical tasks.
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On the 9th and 10th of November, two key meetings took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that is the IGAD Ministerial Consultation with the Parties to the Revitalized Peace Agreement, and the IGAD Council of Ministers’ meeting respectively. Both meetings endorsed the resolution reached in Entebbe.
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In my statements at these meetings, and also to the African Union Peace and Security Council on the 14th of November, I emphasized the importance of the full implementation of the Pre-Transitional tasks to lay a firm foundation for the establishment of the RTGoNU, to avoid the repeat of past mistakes, and to demonstrate the commitment of the Parties to the implementation of the Agreement in letter and spirit.
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As you are all aware, there are critical tasks still outstanding, such as the enactment of the requisite laws, unification of necessary forces, resolution of key issues like the number and boundaries of States and the composition and restructuring of the Council of States. I therefore appealed that our focus should be placed on ensuring the completion of these critical pending tasks.
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I further underlined the importance of consolidating the gains that have already been made in the peace process. We must all take steps to ensure that the RTGoNU, once formed, is inclusive, effective, and will focus solely on full implementation of the Transitional Tasks of the Agreement, rather than be distracted by unaccomplished tasks of the Pre-Transitional period. Additionally, I strongly emphasized the lack of funding, which is a fundamental impediment to the implementation process.
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That said, I was pleased to note that the Parties’ agreement on endorsing the 100 days extension was reached without objection and that the spirit of compromise was demonstrated by the Parties in Addis Ababa, and by the leaders at the Tripartite meeting in Entebbe. As we move forward, I urge that all political leaders in South Sudan follow this exemplary show of flexibility and compromise, both of which are critical to the successful implementation of the Peace Agreement.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
9. As you may recall the IGAD Council of Ministers instructed “the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan in collaboration with R-JMEC, CTSAMVM and the African Union Commission to urgently organize a workshop for security mechanisms in Juba, to agree on a roadmap with clear timeline for the implementation of Transitional Security Arrangements within the one hundred (100) days extension.”
10. I am pleased to report that this workshop was convened on the 18th and 19th of November in Juba. The main outcome was that each mechanism finalized its action plan and a budget for the 100 days extension. The mechanisms are now fully seized of their priorities and will present to you shortly.
11. Additionally, the workshop agreed on a weekly coordination meeting of the heads of the mechanisms, chaired by the NPTC, to assess implementation progress. It was also agreed that the JDB will convene weekly meetings with the mechanisms. These meetings will be attended by representatives of the RJMEC Secretariat and CTSAMVM.
12. The mechanisms have now streamlined and harmonized their workplans and should be able to effectively coordinate their activities. Going forward, I expect that their reports to the RJMEC will strictly highlight the progress being made in line with their action plans, and that any challenges will be addressed in a timely manner.
13. With these arrangements in place and with disbursement of funds to the mechanisms, I expect to see renewed impetus in the delivery of the critical pending Pre-Transitional tasks.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
14. Let me remind this meeting of the critical pending tasks, which are - Chapter 1: the resolution of the number of States and boundaries, and the composition and restructuring of the Council of States; enactment of the Constitutional Amendment Bill; enactment of the amended security and governance laws; agreement on the allocation of ministerial and deputy ministerial portfolios; and nomination ofparties’ representatives to the Transitional National LegislativeAssembly.
15. In Chapter 2, the outstanding issues relate to demilitarization of all civilian centres; cantonment of all forces; registration, screening, selection, training and redeployment of the Necessary Unified Forces.
16. I am pleased to note that the IGAD Special Envoy has been directed to facilitate a meeting of the Parties to resolve the issue of the number of states and their boundaries, and any other outstanding issues pertaining to the establishment of the R-TGoNU. I am also pleased to say that the IGAD Special Envoy is seized of this matter and has made plans to hold these meetings. I appeal to the Parties to compromise and resolve all the outstanding issues.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
17. I welcome reports of the deposit of an additional USD 40 million to the NPTC account and I want to thank His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit and his government for honouring the commitment to make available the remaining balance of the US $100 million pledged in May. I hope that these funds will be availed immediately to the mechanisms to enable them to expedite implementation of their action plans. I must also emphasize that the principles of accountability and transparency in the management of the availed funds is of paramount importance.
18. As a priority, I urge that some funds be used to immediately purchase and deliver food and supplies to cantonment sites to address the unfortunate situation of troops without basic supplies leaving the sites. Likewise, any in-kind donations that are held up in Juba should be delivered to their intended cantonment sites without any further delay.
19. Lastly, with the 100 days already ticking, I urge the region and the international community to present a unified voice in support of the full and timely implementation of the Peace Agreement as we move forward.
20. Now as much as ever, regional and international support is needed, and I continue to urge that financial and in-kind support be considered and extended without delay. In this regard, I would like to thank and appreciate all those who have already provided support to the implementation of the Agreement.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
21. In view of the above, my recommendations are as follows:
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a) The NPTC to immediately release the requisite funds to the implementing mechanisms and set up a follow up mechanism to ensure accountability and transparency;
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b) The Tri-partite mechanism agreed on in Entebbe should immediately commence its work;
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c) The IGAD Special Envoy should urgently convene meetings of the Parties to resolve all the outstanding issues;
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d) All security mechanisms should adhere to their action plans;
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e) Tasks that do not cost money should be completed without further
delay;
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f) Encourageregularface-to-facemeetingsofthetopleadershipofthe
Parties to the Agreement during the 100 days extended period;
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g) Appeal to the IGAD Heads of States and Government and the
Council of Ministers to remain closely engaged;
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h) The IGAD Special Envoy to expedite his engagement with the hold
out groups; and
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i) TheConstitutionalAmendmentBillandotherrelevantlawstobe enacted without any further delay.
22. In closing, I expect the meeting today to consider the action plans developed by the different mechanisms for the 100 days, and provide guidance on steps that should be taken to ensure that all the outstanding critical tasks are completed in a timely manner.
23. Finally, I look forward to attending the Ordinary Summit of the IGAD Heads of State and Government scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa this Friday 29th November 2019.
24. I wish you fruitful deliberations.
Thank you.