HANDOVER REMARKS For H.E. Lt. Gen. Augostino S.K. Njoroge, the outgoing RJMEC Interim Chairperson on the occasion of The Handover Ceremony for the Incoming Interim Chairperson of RJMEC 16 August 2020 Juba, South Sudan
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Your Excellency Honourable Deng Dau Deng - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Sudan
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- Your Excellency Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu – IGAD Executive Secretary
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- Your Excellency Gamal Goraish – Representative of the Chairperson of IGAD
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- Your Excellency, Dr Ismail Wais, IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan;
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- Honourable Ministers;
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- Your Excellencies, Representatives of the Parties and
stakeholders of the Revitalised Peace Agreement;
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- Mr David Shearer, SRSG and Head of UNMISS;
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- Representatives of the Diplomatic Community;
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- Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon.
1. It is my pleasure to see so many of you at this occasion, and I feel honoured for this opportunity to address you for the last time as the Interim Chairperson of RJMEC. Throughout my entire period in RJMEC, I have been fully clear of the RJMEC’s mandate of monitoring, evaluating and overseeing the implementation of the Agreement (the R-ARCSS) as well as the mandate and tasks of the RTGoNU, including the adherence of the Parties to the agreed timelines and implementation schedule.
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Looking back across the four years I have spent here with both the JMEC and RJMEC, I can see that South Sudan has come a long way since 2016 and the days of the High-Level Revitalisation Forum. The R-ARCSS, as many of you know, was signed in September 2018, and since that time, much work has been done, most recently culminating in the formation of the RTGoNU and the beginning of the Transitional Period. To have come this far is quite an achievement, and worthy of congratulations to the Parties and the people of South Sudan. The R-ARCSS is and will always remain a significant milestone in the history of South Sudan. I am glad to have been involved with such a consequential period of this country’s history.
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However, consideration of a more detailed picture shows that much more could have been achieved by now. Throughout the period since signing the Agreement, I have had concerns about the pace of implementation. At times, it appeared to me like progress stalled. What is clear, is that the implementation pace must accelerate. The establishment of the RTGoNU should have been the factor to catalyse greater and faster progress.
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The implementation matrix shows us what there is to be done and when, and the reactivated Working Committees give us the tool with which the RJMEC can monitor and assist the RTGoNU in the implementation of the Agreement. Now that it is almost six months n since the Presidency was sworn in, the RTGoNU should come up with a revised and practicable timeframe for implementation, and must nominate their representatives in the RJMEC Working Committees. We need that level of engagement from the RTGoNU.
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This is a time to address general and specific challenges. Generally, going forward, we need to see evermore leadership, political will, confidence building, and a deeply held, cross-party belief in the reality of peace and prosperity in South Sudan. All Parties holding such a belief will make that outcome much closer.
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Specifically, I’d like to highlight the issue of the unification of forces, a much-delayed task which should have been completed in the Pre-Transitional Period. By this time now, there should have been many troops who have completed their training and been redeployed as NUFs, but there are none presently ready for deployment. It is not acceptable to send troops for cantonment and training, yet not have the budget to complete the tasks. I hope that the RTGoNU will take this matter seriously, and provide the resources to NTC to finalise the redeployment of those in training.
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Of specific note is the Constitution-making process. RJMEC was ready to proceed with this matter on time, including holding the workshop as set out in the Agreement. However, we await the RTGoNU to take necessary action on their part. I therefore urge the RTGoNU to be seized of this matter.
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I am also concerned about community-based violence, and the strategy being employed to address it. Disarmament takes time, and may not be the solution in the short term. There is need for political will of the communities and those involved. Disputes should be resolved by dialogue and not violence, while restraint from all those fighting is needed. It is for the elders to control the youth: they must guide the young, and provide the wisdom needed. The civil population of the country should be farmers, tradespeople, engineers, doctors, lawyers, all building the future together. Bearing weapons should be the job of a soldier, not civilians.
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On all the general and specific challenges: yes, COVID-19 is a major factor, but making progress is nevertheless possible. Don’t let COVID-19 be an excuse for everything undone. That said, I am glad about the recent progress made with responsibility sharing at State level. It is my hope that this will shortly lead to the reconstitution of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and the Council of States.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
10. I must of course give thanks and extend my heartfelt appreciation to so many who have supported me in the four challenging years of RJMEC leadership. I am happy with what has been achieved so far, but I would have been even happier had the implementation of the R-ARCSS been more advanced than it is now.
11. Firstly, allow me to extend my gratitude to H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan. His guidance both before and after the signing of the Peace Agreement has been invaluable. My parting message to him must be that we must fast-track implementation, and proceed according to the implementation matrix, as we are behind in so many areas. The RTGoNU, especially the President and Presidency, should set and drive the pace of implementation of the Agreement.
12. Secondly, I wish convey my sincere thanks to IGAD and H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of the Republic of Kenya for the faith they showed in appointing me to the position of Deputy Chairperson of JMEC, and later by IGAD as Interim Chairperson of RJMEC.
13. Thirdly, I feel indebted indeed to the Parties to the Agreement and all the members of the RJMEC brothers and sisters and all the beautiful people of South Sudan, who made my work and my time here so rewarding.
14. Fourthly, I want to take the opportunity to thank the international donors who continued to finance the operations and logistics of RJMEC and request them to continue to do so.
15. Finally, I cannot finish without extending my thanks to my great team at the RJMEC Secretariat, under the able leadership of the Chief of Staff, Ambassador Berhanu Kebede. We often describe the RJMEC Secretariat team as a family, and it has been my pleasure to have been the head of the family for the last two years.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
16. As I sign off I want to wish my successor, Major General Charles Tai Gituai, every success in his role as the Deputy Chairperson and Interim Chairperson of RJMEC. He has a capable team behind him, who will do their all and continue fulfilling the RJMEC mandate. I therefore appeal to all of you, especially those of you listed in Article 7.2 of the Agreement, to give General Gituai all the support that he requires to be effective in delivering the mandate of RJMEC and ultimately achieve the elusive peace and security for the people of South Sudan.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
17. IthasbeenmyhonourtoservethepeopleofSouthSudan.Maythe Almighty God bring sustainable peace to His people. God bless you all.
I thank you.