- Major General Hailu Gonfa Eddosa, Chairperson of CTSAMVM, 

-         Distinguished Members of the CTSAMVM Board,

-         Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning!

1.   At the outset, allow me to thank Major General Hailu Gonfa Eddosa, Chairperson of CTSAMVM, for his leadership of this very important mechanism since his he became Chairperson. General,  as always, I would like to assure you of RJMEC’s full support and cooperation as you lead CTSAMVM at this critical time in the South Sudan peace process. 

2.   I welcome the resumption of the sittings of the CTSAMVM Board, especially after aborted Board meeting of 26 July 2023. CTSAMVM is a critical Agreement mechanism with the mandate of monitoring, verification, compliance and reporting on the status of the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements. 

3.   As you are all aware, CTSAMVM has made valuable contributions to the peace process, including in the continuous monitoring of the permanent ceasefire, underscoring of the protection of civilians, investigating and verifying alleged violations, including helping in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). 

4.   To that end, CTSAMVM has submitted many verified violations reports to RJMEC and IGAD since the signing of the R-ARCSS in 2018 and remedial actions were undertaken on the basis of such reports. I commend CTSAMVM for such dedicated contributions which enhanced confidence of the Parties, the region, and partners in the institution and, by extension, enhanced overall confidence in the peace process. 

Distinguished Members,

5.   Since July 2022, CTSAMVM has faced serious logistical and operational challenges when the US Government withdrew its funding to the mechanism. Despite the marked reduction in funding, CTSAMVM has continued to perform its functions and has adapted accordingly. However, like for many of us, the new funding situation has necessitated reforms and streamlining, which included a reduction in the number of its international monitors. 

6.   Besides, the initial funding stream from the RTGoNU for the national monitors that was very critical, dwindled. The delays in the payment of the allowances of the National Monitors affected their morale, resulting in their boycott of work for some time. The matter was addressed following funding support received from the Government of Japan. This resulted in the resumption of work by the National Monitors.

7.   I would like to underscore the critical role that the National Members within CTSAMVM play in providing balanced party perspectives in their reports, and for this to be performed at maximum effectiveness, there is a need for cooperation, coordination and understanding to strengthen the requisite conducive working atmosphere.

8.   That notwithstanding, CTSAMVM meetings were  interrupted in April 2023 due to some concerns by the Senior National Representatives. As you are aware, four CTC Senior National Representatives wrote a letter, dated 22nd May 2023, addressed to H.E. Dr Ismail Wais, IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, and the Interim Chairperson of RJMEC and copied to you, on the subject of ‘Challenges Facing Functions and Operations of CTSAMVM”. This letter, in summary, highlighted five key issues, namely the CTSAMVM structure; leadership; finance and the Terms of Reference of the CTSAMVM Board and CTC. 

9.   The four CTC members also indicated that their issues must be resolved before they would resume work. To date, their boycott has affected the smooth functioning and operations of CTSAMVM.

10.  Pursuant to articles 7.7 and 7.8 of the R-ARCSS, RJMEC is mandated to provide oversight to the work of all the Agreement Institutions and Mechanisms, including CTSAMVM. As an institution of IGAD (sub-article 2.1.10.5 of the R-ARCSS), CTSAMVM is mandated to regularly report to IGAD and RJMEC. Consequently, IGAD is central in the administrative and operational management of CTSAMVM.

Distinguished Members,

11.  In response to the letter, I held separate meetings with the concerned parties, CTSAMVM leadership, and later with the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan and the IGAD Executive Secretary. Thus, in the course of my extensive consultations with the leaderships of CTSAMVM and IGAD on this matter, it was established that most of the issues raised were structural and administrative, occasioned primarily by the lack of clarity and/or misinterpretation of CTSAMVM’s administrative and operational structure under the Revitalised Peace Agreement. 

12.  To address this, IGAD reviewed, streamlined and endorsed the Terms of Reference of the CTSAMVM Board, and the Chairperson of CTSAMVM. Copies have been provided to you for your reference.  

13.  IGAD also provided guidelines to RJMEC, as an oversight body of the R-ARCSS, to draft the CTC Terms of Reference (ToR) which are supposed to be in harmony with the endorsed Terms of Reference of the Board and the Chairperson of CTSAMVM, and in accordance with the current financial and operational realities of CTSAMVM. 

14.  Consequently, on 26 July 2023, the CTSAMVM Board was convened so that the CTSAMVM Chairperson and I could brief the  Board on the work that had been done to address the concerns presented by the four Senior National Representatives, as well as present to the Board the new ToR of the Chairperson, the Board, and the draft ToR for the CTC for approval by the Board. Unfortunately, the Board meeting was aborted due to the absence of some Board members. 

15.  Following this setback, I met with H.E. Riek Machar Teny the First Vice President, H.E. Hussein Abdulbagi, Vice President, Hon. Tut Gatluak, Presidential Security Adviser, and Hon. Minister Martin Lomuro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, in an effort to resolve the CTC challenge. Recently, I convened another meeting with the four Senior National Representatives and the CTSAMVM leadership, and agreed to form a joint committee to review the CTC ToR. Last week the Committee presented to RJMEC its report and a revised CTC ToR. Following a constructive discussion, a consensus draft CTC ToR was reached.

Distinguished Members,

16.  The purpose of today’s Extra-Ordinary Board Meeting is to brief the Board on its IGAD approved revised ToR and that of the Chairperson, as well as on the draft ToR of the CTC which the Board is required to approve. The approval of the CTC ToR will unlock the work of the CTC that has stalled since April this year. Importantly, the nine pending violation reports will immediately be processed, submitted to the RJMEC and IGAD, and finally published. This will enable the Parties to act and provide the necessary remedies to the violations, including accountability.

17.  In conclusion, with the CTC challenge behind us, we need to turn a new page and renew our efforts, especially as we get closer to elections were CTSAMVM is most needed to be more robust in its work in the event of likely increase of violations. In this regard, it is critical that RJMEC, IGAD and the international partners work closely in support of this very important Agreement mechanism.

18.  I wish you all fruitful deliberations in the review and subsequent consideration of the CTC Terms of Reference.  

I Thank You.