- Your Excellency, Ali Al-Sadig, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sudan and Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers;

- Your Excellencies, Members of the Council;

- Your Excellency, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of IGAD;

- Your Excellencies, IGAD Special Envoys; 

- Excellencies;

- Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good morning!

1. I am honoured and privileged to brief this Council as the Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), the body responsible for overseeing, monitoring and evaluating the status of the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan of 2018.

2. My briefing today will cover the key benchmarks which have been attained in its implementation, critical tasks which remain outstanding, recurrent challenges and conclude with recommendations.

3. Despite progress registered, RJMEC has regularly expressed its concerns regarding the slow pace of progress in the implementation of the Peace Agreement. That said, the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity responded positively to RJMEC’s call to prepare a Roadmap and strategy for implementing the Agreement’s critical outstanding tasks, and revised the timeline of the Agreement. The process of the extension of the Transitional Period was done in accordance with the provisions of article 8.4 of the Revitalised Peace Agreement.  

Your Excellencies,

4. I will now provide updates on the status of implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement since my last briefing to this august Council. 

5. On Governance, the National Constitutional Amendment Committee has reviewed and drafted several amendments to the key priority legislation, including the National Audit Chamber Act, Public Finance Management and Accountability Act, Petroleum Act, Petroleum Revenue Management Act, the National Elections Act and the Anti-Corruption Commission Act.

6. In addition, the reconstituted Transitional National Legislature passed the following bills: the South Sudan People’s Defense Force Bill, the Wildlife Service Bill, the National Police Service Bill, the Political Parties Bill and the Constitution-making Process Bill. Other bills are being processed.

7. The outstanding governance tasks include the completion of reforms of national Institutions and Commissions, judicial reforms and the necessary steps towards elections at the end of the transitional period.

8. On the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements, the South Sudan unity government resolved the impasse over the Unified Command structure, including the appointments of unified Commanders in April 2022. Furthermore, approximately 49,000 out of 53,000 Necessary Unified Forces have been unified. These forces are yet to be redeployed as they are currently being accommodated in the Training Centres. 

9. There are critical outstanding Transitional Security Arrangements tasks. They include commencement of Phase 2 training of the unified forces; management of weapons and munitions brought to the cantonment areas; and funding and operationalisation of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission programmes. In addition, the Strategic Defence and Security Review which is critical for security sector reforms has not yet been completed.

10. Regarding Humanitarian Assistance and Reconstruction, some humanitarian corridors remain opened and continue to facilitate free movement of goods, services and people across borders, including the voluntary return of more than 600,000 people since 2018. However, various factors have exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation in the country. These include prolonged subnational violence; widespread floods; food insecurity; reduced funding and lack of basic services. Furthermore, the establishment of the Special Reconstruction Fund, a critical coordinating mechanism for recovery and development efforts, is long overdue. 

11. As for Resource, Economic and Financial Management, it is encouraging to note that the South Sudan unity government has initiated reforms in Public Financial Management, which include operationalization of the treasury single account, creation of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Authority and review of legislation relating to Public Financial Management. Furthermore, policy reviews and the management of natural resources, agricultural policies, strategies and programmes are underway. However, the policy for the management of the country’s waterbodies, including but not limited to the Nile River that was prioritised in the Roadmap, is yet to be developed.  

12. On Transitional Justice, the South Sudan unity government conducted public consultations to help guide the legislation for the establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing. The drafting of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing Bill and the Compensation and Reparation Authority Bill are both ongoing. On the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, the responsibility for its establishment lies with the African Union Commission working with the South Sudan unity government, and this is still pending.

13. The making of the permanent constitution is critical for guiding the conduct of elections at the end of the Transitional Period. Once the Constitution-making Process Bill 2022 becomes law, the South Sudan unity government will put in place all the institutions essential in the making of the new constitution.

14. During the Roadmap phase, it is critical that the South Sudan unity government provides an enabling environment for elections, including the opening and preserving of civic and political space for all, to build confidence and participation in the process. Overall, predictable funding and adequate logistical support for the implementation of the peace agreement is critical.

Your Excellencies,

15. Since the Revitalised Peace Agreement came into force in 2018, its implementation faced several challenges. They include trust deficit among the parties; capacity gaps of Agreement institutions and mechanisms; lack of adequate and predictable funding; and limited resources for implementation. 

16. Given the requirements of the Roadmap and the extension of the Transitional Period, RJMEC has appealed for a change of strategy and approach from all actors, importantly, including IGAD, to focus on facilitating progress in the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement.

17. I will now conclude with recommendations to this Council as follows:

a. increase engagements with the South Sudan unity government to encourage them to expedite implementation of the Roadmap within timelines;  

b. appeal to the South Sudan unity government to urgently address the root causes of intercommunal violence and insecurity in the country;

c. further appeal to the South Sudan unity government to establish and operationalize the Special Reconstruction Fund to  pave the way for the mobilisation of resources for post-conflict recovery and reconstruction; and

d. appeal to IGAD member states and the internaitonal community to consider political, logistical and financial support to the monitoring and oversight institutions, RJMEC and CTSAMVM, to enhance their operational capabilities.

18. In conclusion, I would like to highlight that this is the time to ensure that the Revitalised Peace Agreement, being one of IGAD’s key flagship peace agreements in the region, succeeds. As the Revitalised Peace Agreement enters another critical moment, IGAD’s visibility in South Sudan is needed now more than ever.

I Thank You!