Honourable Minsters,

Excellencies, Ambassadors and Representatives of the Diplomatic Community,

Distinguished participants of the conference,

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning. 

1.  I send you greetings from the interim Chairperson of RJMEC, Major General Charles Tai Gituai, who regrets he cannot be here today. It is therefore my honour to present the following statement on his behalf.

2.At the outset, I would like to take this early moment to thank H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, for  steering the peace process to this point so far. From the time of the High-Level Revitalisation Forum to the signing of the Revitalised Peace Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in September 2018, to the establishment of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) in February 2020, his leadership has been evident. The President’s decision to revert the country to ten states in February this year was a historic decision which allowed the formation of RTGoNU on a solid foundation. Furthermore, all the Parties to the R-ARCSS have played their part in this success, just like the people of South Sudan who have stood alongside their leaders in the demand for sustainable peace and the full implementation of the Agreement.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

3.   This National Dialogue conference is a part of the concerted efforts towards finding solutions for the sustainable peace in this country. We must therefore all agree that the inclusion and recognition of the voices of the diverse peoples of South Sudan is of utmost importance to the peaceful future of this country. 

4.The R-ARCSS has already achieved some tangible peace dividends which must be consolidated, delays and challenges notwithstanding. Therefore, all the Parties to the agreement should seize the opportunity to continuously dialogue amongst themselves and with the people of South Sudan on how to address recurring challenges, implement all its provisions and put this country firmly and irrevocably on the path of sustainable peace and development. This is why the ability to reach and to listen to the grassroots is such an important achievement, and I hope that this conference will reveal much about how to do that.

5.  As we continue to implement the Agreement in this Transitional Period, we should appreciate just how the voices of the entire spectrum of South Sudanese society are so important and critical in the implementation. Chapter 5 on Transitional Justice, is essential to atone for crimes committed during the dark days of conflict - the “untold human suffering” that the agreement acknowledges. In this regard, expeditious establishment of the three Transitional Justice institutions will be a great leap forward and RTGoNU support on this matter is critical. Already the African Union has commenced towards the establishment of the Hybrid Court of South Sudan. 

6.  Furthermore, Chapter 6 of the Agreement on establishing the Permanent Constitution is vital, as it will lay a critical fundamental foundation for enduring peace in South Sudan. The Preamble of the Revitalised Peace Agreement duly recognises that the Parties to the Agreement are “determined to compensate our people by recommitting ourselves to peace and constitutionalism and not to repeat mistakes of the past.” Therefore, ensuring that the Permanent Constitution is a true reflection of all South Sudan’s peoples’ views of which is of paramount importance.

7.  When the Constitution-making process is fully underway, reaching communities at grass-root level and understanding the perspectives of all peoples of South Sudan, irrespective of their backgrounds or political beliefs and affiliations, will be a critical ingredient in establishing the solid foundation that Chapter 6 intends to lay. The RJMEC Secretariat will shortly be convening a workshop to push this process along, as per Article 6.7 of the R-ARCSS. In addition, a comparative study on post-conflict constitution-making processes has been conducted to inform this process, and copies are available on the RJMEC website. 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

8.  In closing, I would like to say that the vision of the Revitalised Peace Agreement – to lay “the foundation for a united, peaceful and prosperous society based on justice, equality, respect for human rights and the rule of law”– is truly laudable. I urge the National Dialogue to support the achievement of this goal through whatever ways they can, not least in the sharing of their knowledge and experience they have gained in their work. Their recommendations at the end of this conference will be of particular interest and it is RJMEC’S hope that those recommendations will bond well with the R-ARCSS. I wish all participants every success in this event.

 Thank you