Honorable Ministers, Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen;

1. I thank you all for the deliberations we have had today. I welcome the Honorable Minister, Dr Martin Elia Lumoro for delivering the TGoNU’s observations and response to the JMEC Working Committees evaluation reports.
2. As I said earlier, these reports, will all be submitted to IGAD and the international community, to guide deliberations towards the revitalization of implementation of the Peace Agreement in the coming weeks and months.
3. I commend all the Committee Chairpersons, their members for the rigor and honesty with which they undertook their assessments. I also commend the TGoNU for its support and participation in the Committee meetings and for their rejoinder.
4. We are all now, in a much better position to undertake the revitalisation process from an informed point of view.
5. In the meantime, I continue to urge the TGoNU to take immediate steps and conclude on key pending tasks, including the Constitutional amendment and legislative review mandate and welcome their stated commitment to the revitalization process.
6. I also urge the JMEC Working Committees to continue with their work. Our hope is that the revitalisation process, when successful, will ignite a new momentum and accelerate progress in our work and the realisation of long lasting peace in South Sudan.
7. Finally, I welcome the briefings by the SRSG, all the Chairpersons of the Agreement Boards and Commissions today, and commend their members for the progress made so far.

Honourable Ministers, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.

1. I welcome you all to our long overdue JMEC plenary.

2. Over the past three weeks, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development has, through its Council of Ministers and Special Envoy, conducted a round of pre-consultation meetings pursuant to the decision to convene a High Level Revitalisation Forum.

3.  I am delighted to hear from the Special Envoy, Ambassador Ismail Wais, that positive progress has been made and that all Parties consulted have approached the process in a constructive and peaceful frame of mind. I wish to thank all those who took part for their engagement.

4. After more than a year of unacceptable turmoil and unimaginable distress suffered by millions of South Sudanese, this revitalisation process offers an opportunity for the leaders of all communities to sit together, bring the violence to an end and determine a political path forward.

5. The people of South Sudan hope and pray for peace and stability and the world is watching with high expectations.

Honourable Ministers, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.

6. JMEC remains fully focused on its mandate to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Peace Agreement and to support IGAD.

7. The JMEC Working Committees, comprising regional and international guarantors, the TGoNU and other South Sudanese stakeholders, have undertaken a comprehensive evaluation of the status of implementation of the Peace Agreement complete with observations and recommendations.

8. This evaluation report will be presented to IGAD pursuant to our mandate and will form part of our contribution to ensuring a successful High Level Revitalisation Forum. The TGoNU has stated its intention to provide its own comments, which will also be forwarded to IGAD.

9. I will now place on record a summary of the key findings, observations and recommendations of our JMEC Working Committees, which will be made available publicly on our website after formal submission to IGAD.

Honourable Ministers, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.

10. I have previously described implementation of the Peace Agreement as being “modest, at best” and from the evaluation reports presented I have heard nothing to change my view.

11. Although initially reasonable progress was made in the formation of the various institutions and bodies, implementation of the Peace Agreement was disrupted in July 2016, and very little progress has since been made in the delivery of its key provisions.

12.  Fundamental to the whole report is the irrefutable fact that the permanent ceasefire has been and continues to be violated by all the Parties with impunity and as such security has deteriorated to a critical level. Violations reported to both SPLA-IG and SPLA-IO have not been addressed.

Honourable Ministers, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. 13. With regard to Chapter One:

1. The main institutions, such as the Transitional Government of National Unity and the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, have all been established with varying degrees of adherence to the letter of the Peace Agreement and the specified power-sharing formulas. Representation of women is still below expectation.

2. The expansion of the number of states, from 10 to 32, in contravention of the Peace Agreement, has also fundamentally adversely affected the intended power sharing formula.

c. The National Constitutional Amendment Committee, whose establishment according to the Peace Agreement should have preceded that of all the other institutions, was eventually established. However, it has proceeded expeditiously and has completed the drafting of the Constitutional Amendment Bill (2017), which has since been presented to the Council of Ministers for consideration.

d. Key among those provisions still awaiting implementation include enactment of the Constitutional Amendment Bill (2017), commencement of judicial reforms and a review of the Judiciary Act, and reconstitution of the National Elections Commission and the Political Parties Council.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen; 14. With regard to Chapter Two:

a. The Permanent Ceasefire was signed, but has been consistently violated by the Parties with impunity. Fighting between government and opposition forces continues in different parts of the country, particularly around Pagak.

2. The assembly and cantonment of troops is only now seeing some progress as several SPLA-IO (Taban) commanders have declared troops for cantonment in some areas of South Sudan. This process is months behind schedule and SPLA-IO (Machar) is not participating.

3. The Strategic Defence and Security Review Board, the Joint Military Ceasefire Commission, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanisms and the Joint Operations Centre have all been established, yet most are not following prescribed guidelines or timeframes; the National Architecture has not yet been fully established; and the Joint Integrated Police, though formed, is not functional.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen; 15. With regard to Chapter Three:

1. The number of people displaced since the signing of the Peace Agreement has practically doubled, from approximately 2.3 million to around 4 million. I require no other statistic to underline the tragedy that has unfolded here.

2. There is grave concern regarding inconsistent humanitarian access. In addition to bureaucratic impediments, the killing of aid workers continues, in clear violation of International Humanitarian Law. The total number of aid workers killed since the signing of the Peace Agreement is forty-eight. Perpetrators include state and non-state actors.

c. The TGoNU is implementing the NGO Act without having subjected it to public consultation as required by the Peace Agreement. In addition, the Special Reconstruction Fund has not been established.

d. Whilst the deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the country is attributed to several causes, the persistence of armed hostilities is the main factor. Renewed offensives resulted in the further displacement and civilian flight across borders into neighbouring countries.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen; 16. With regard to Chapter Four:

1. The degree of implementation of this Chapter is low. Only 16 provisions out of the 127 considered have been recorded as implemented.

2. In sections covering resource management, institutional reform and public financial and economic management, 16 out of 98 provisions have been implemented.

c. In sections covering the review of National Legislation, Environmental Protection and the Enterprise Development Fund, none of the provisions have been implemented.

d. The TGoNU also reports that work has yet to start on the seven provisions needed to establish the Economic and Financial Management Authority. In that regard, there is a clear need to establish the TGoNU’s position in order to move forward within the framework of the Peace Agreement.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen; 17. With regard to Chapter Five:

1. The TGoNU has not adhered to the timelines set out in the Peace Agreement. None of the institutions intended to implement a transitional justice agenda have been established.

2. There has been some progress regarding initiating processes towards the establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing and the Hybrid Court for South Sudan.

c. In June 2017, six months after its creation, an inclusive multi- stakeholder technical committee established for the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing, commenced its work to conduct sensitisation on the consultations envisaged in the Peace Agreement.

4. As regards the mandate for the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the court, and a Draft Statute were tabled before the Council of Ministers in September 2017.

5. The Compensation and Reparations Authority has not yet been established.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen; 18. With regard to Chapter Six:

1. There has been no progress whatsoever within this Chapter.

2. Key pending tasks include the review and reconstitution of the National Constitutional Review Commission to undertake the Permanent Constitution-making process; and drafting and enactment of legislation to guide the Constitution-making process.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

19. JMEC’s evaluation report also includes numerous observations and recommendations:

a. Observations:

 i. The political, security, humanitarian and economic situation in South Sudan remains precarious and not conducive for the full implementation of the Peace Agreement.

  ii. The renewed conflict since July 2016 and the escalation of armed violence, the flight of key opposition figures and the emergence of new armed and political opposition has undermined the credibility of the implementation of the Peace Agreement.

iii. Continued conflict exacerbates a worsening economic and humanitarian situation and is an impediment to inclusive political, social and economic progress in the country.

iv.  Gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law continue unabated. These violations have included targeted killings of civilians, rape and sexual violence, mass displacement of the population and the destruction of property. In addition, access to humanitarian relief continues to be impeded.

v. Since July 2016 there have been new political developments, including splits within some Parties to the Agreement and the flight of Dr. Riek Machar and other key opposition leaders, which has undermined inclusive implementation of the Peace Agreement and the credibility of the current peace process.

vi. The TGoNU has faced a number of impediments to implementation including financial constraints, weak technical capacity and a lack of effective coordination, particularly in cases where implementation requires cooperation across ministries. But it is also evident that insufficient political commitment and poor prioritisation is holding progress back.

vii. The continued lack of accountability and prevailing impunity undermines efforts towards reconciliation, healing and recovery.

viii. Furthermore, the governance reforms prescribed in the Peace Agreement are undermined by the non- implementation of key provisions of the Peace Agreement, including those in Chapter Six. A Permanent Constitution is a pre-requisite for reforms including the holding of elections at the end of the Transitional Period.

b. Recommendations:

 i. All Parties to the Agreement and estranged groups must continue to be pursuaded to embrace and participate genuinely in the revitalisation process.

ii. The IGAD High-Level Revitalisation Forum must agree on specific steps and reforms to be implemented within prescribed timelines as a pre-condition for fair and democratic elections at the end of the Transitional Period.

iii. There must be an immediate and permanent ceasefire and an end to all forms of violence.

iv. Deployment of the Regional Protection Force in Juba should be expedited in full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2304 (2016).

 v.  Free and unhindered humanitarian access and the opening of all major corridors and trading routes should be ensured.

vi. The enactment of the Constitutional Amendment Bill (2017) should be expedited to finalise incorporation of the Peace Agreement into the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan.

vii. The Permanent Constitution making process should commence immediately.

viii.  IGAD, in collaboration with the AU and the UN, should put in place mechanisms to enforce compliance.

 ix. The region and the international community must speak with one voice and coordinate their actions.

 x. The AU and the TGoNU should resolve issues surrounding the establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan and provide relevant support to the comprehensive transitional justice and accountability efforts in South Sudan. The TGoNU should also establish all other Chapter Five institutions within the timeframe provided in the Agreement.

xi. Finally, JMEC reiterates the urgent need to engage all the Parties and estranged groups in the revitalisation process and to take concrete steps to restore the

Permanent Ceasefire, ensure inclusive implementation of the Peace Agreement and develop revised realistic timelines towards democratic elections at the end of the Transitional Period.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

20. I wish to thank all the Chairpersons and members of the Working Committees for their dedication and commitment to the process of evaluating the progress, and lack thereof, in the implementation of the Peace Agreement. I also wish to thank and commend the TGoNU for its cooperation and participation in the Working Committee meetings.

21. I have full confidence in our evaluation and I hope and expect that these assessments and recommendations will enable the Parties, the region and all South Sudanese stakeholders to pursue the revitalisation process from an informed point of view.

22. I encourage them all to take the necessary steps and compromises to revitalise the implementation of the Peace Agreement without further delay and deliver a lasting solution to the conflict in South Sudan.

Honorable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

23.  I expect this Plenary to:

1. welcome the reports and recommendations of the JMEC Working Committees, which are to be submitted to IGAD;

2. receive a briefing from the TGoNU on recent progress made in implementing the Peace Agreement;

3. receive an update from TGoNU and UNMISS on the current humanitarian situation, in particular on steps taken to facilitate unhindered humanitarian access; and,

4. receive summary reports on the status of the various Boards and Commissions of the Peace Agreement and the progress towards their objectives.

24.  Finally, I take this opportunity to thank all our partners in the TGoNU, the other South Sudanese stakeholders, IGAD, AU, Troika, EU, China, the UN, UNMISS, and the International Partners and Friends of South Sudan for their commitment and continued support to JMEC, and appeal for full support for the revitalisation process.

25. May God bless us all and continue to guide us in the relentless pursuit of peace. I thank you.

Honourable Ministers, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.

1.    I welcome you all to our August plenary.

2.    Last week the second anniversary of the signing of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan passed relatively unnoticed.

3.    Our perception at the time of the signing of the Peace Agreement in August 2015 was that it had ended a tragic internal conflict that had threatened to tear Africa’s youngest nation apart and it was hoped that disagreements amongst the Parties over substantive issues had been resolved.

4.    The Peace Agreement brought JMEC into being and we believed that our task would be simply to oversee and guide its implementation by the TGoNU, including the adherence by the Parties to agreed timelines.

5.    By now the Peace Agreement should have achieved considerable progress towards improved security and governance in this country. From day one, however, we have had to persuade the Parties to implement each and every task in accordance with the Peace Agreement.

6.    Disagreements between the key principals and the lack of any appetite for compromise, slowed progress to a standstill and led to a growing tension in Juba that ultimately resulted in the violence of July 2016 and its continuing repercussions. Two years on since the signing of the Peace Agreement there has been little meaningful progress in its implementation.

7.    Since July 2016, we, as JMEC, have remained profoundly shocked by the rampant hostilities across the country and the rapid deterioration of the political, security, humanitarian and economic situation in South Sudan. As a result, we are now rightly absorbed in a process to restore and revitalise the prominence of the Peace Agreement. I shall return to this later.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

8.    Since our last meeting in July, the security situation in the former Upper Nile State has worsened due to the recent offensive operations by forces of the SPLA-IG against the SPLA-IO (Machar) in Matthiang and Pagak.

9.    I condemn all the violence that has occurred in and around Pagak over the past month and urge that military operations cease immediately. I also urge all Parties involved to facilitate CTSAMM’s access to investigate and report on the situation in Pagak.

10.  In this month that we have marked World Humanitarian Day, tens of thousands of people in Upper Nile have been forced to flee their homes, and humanitarian aid workers had no choice but to relocate from the area and suspend delivery of support to those in need.

11.  This cycle of violence, displacement and deprivation of humanitarian support has been repeated around the country over the past year and has led to untold misery among those who seek only to live peacefully and provide for their families.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

12.  More generally, CTSAMM continues to receive reports that all Parties are carrying out serious breaches of the Permanent Ceasefire across the country and as a result the suffering of the South Sudanese people continues without remission.

13.  In the majority of CTSAMM violation reports the same recommendation is made but ignored: that leaders must ensure adherence to the provisions of the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements.

14.  Offensive military campaigns like those seen now in Pagak should not be taking place, especially after the recent unilateral declaration of a ceasefire by H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan. An immediate restoration of the Permanent Ceasefire is needed to ensure that recommendations are implemented and the violence ends.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

15.  I commend the Transitional National Legislative Assembly for electing its representatives for the first time to the East African Legislative Assembly, an important organ of the East African Community. This is a significant development for the country towards regional integration.

16.  The Strategic Defence and Security Review Board is making slow progress in stage one of their responsibilities, namely the presentation of a strategic security assessment, a security policy framework and a revised defence policy. We hope that the one million US dollars pledged by the TGoNU will be delivered promptly to assist its activities.

17.  We note that the Joint Military Ceasefire Commission is reporting the possible assembly and cantonment of opposition troops in five areas of the country but verification through CTSAMM will still be required.

18.  However, there has been no movement on the establishment of a second training cohort for the Joint Integrated Police since the graduation of the first group in June.

19.  On a positive note, I welcome the opening of the Joint Operations Centre and the conclusion of the initial training of operational managers and staff, under direct support from the United States. The opening of the Joint Operations Centre is a welcome achievement under the Peace Agreement. I now urge the security sector to prioritize its ulitization and to finalize implementation of the agreed, and long overdue, Transitional Security Arrangements for Juba.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

20.  On 22nd June the UN announced that the famine in South Sudan had eased. This is largely due to the financial and operational support provided by the international community towards the alleviation of this desperate humanitarian crisis. By mid-August 2017, the Humanitarian Response Plan had been almost two-thirds funded to the tune of 1 billion US dollars. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the international community for this resolute support. However, a funding gap of 600 million US dollars still remains.

21.  The imminent threat of famine may have receded, but the number of people who are severely food insecure continues to rise. According to figures released by the UN, since our last meeting a further half a million more people are food insecure, many on the brink of famine.

22.  Six million people – half of the entire population – are now severely food insecure, and the continuous displacement from the Equatoria region, the bread basket of South Sudan, might further increase future food insecurity as cultivation is disrupted.

23.  The total number of displaced South Sudanese people is now four million, of which two million are internally displaced and two million are refugees in neighbouring countries. The UN continues to report the occurrence of gross human rights abuses, in the form of indiscriminate killings, rape, sexual violence against girls, boys, women and men, and the destruction of property.

24.  Although famine has been averted for now, the overall humanitarian situation remains dire and there is no room for complacency. Humanitarian access is still frequently hampered and according to recent UN OCHA figures, the number of reported humanitarian access incidents rose from 89 in May to 136 in July 2017.

25.  I am encouraged, however, that immediately following our last plenary, JMEC organised and hosted a joint Humanitarian Affairs Discussion Forum, with the participation of the TGoNU, humanitarian community and donors, to discuss steps in reducing the impediments to delivery of humanitarian assistance. I hope that the outcome of the Forum will contribute to improved humanitarian access in line with the provisions of Chapter III of the Peace Agreement.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

26.  On the economy, I welcome the progress made by the TGoNU in reducing the severe level of economic instability experienced since 2016. High levels of borrowing from the Central Bank had contributed to increased inflation and exchange rate depreciation. This borrowing has now been substantially reduced. The pursuit of economic stability must continue to provide a framework for economic recovery.

27.  Strengthening oil prices have helped government revenue evolve more favourably than had been anticipated, but revenue growth continues to be limited by low oil production, poor prospects for increasing oil production in the near future and low levels of non- oil revenue. In that regard I welcome the efforts of the TGoNU to increase revenue performance by pushing ahead with the establishment of a fully functional National Revenue Authority.

28.  To further streamline spending and increase budget efficiency I would urge the TGoNU to continue with its plans to unwind the petrol subsidy and to pay down the arrears owed to public sector workers and suppliers of goods and services. Indeed, it is critical to lay the foundation for sound budget management and economic growth, both of which are key components in the realization of the implementation of Chapter Four of the Peace Agreement.

29.  I must again stress that an urgent resolution to the conflict in South Sudan is a necessary condition to strengthen and consolidate economic stability while beginning the huge task of creating conditions for broader economic growth and development. This will necessarily include increasing agricultural production, improving oil and other revenue sources, and encouraging growth in the rest of the private sector, particularly the service sector.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

30.  I regret to note that the preparatory work by the multi-stakeholder committee on consultations on the Commission on Truth, Reconciliation and Healing has not progressed beyond that which I reported last month. This committee has not conducted further awareness raising missions as planned, partly due to the lack of resources.

31.  On the establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, I am happy to report that the African Union Commission Office of the Legal Counsel and the TGoNU held preliminary consultations in Juba and Addis Ababa to discuss the draft legal instruments necessary to establish the Court. I am informed by the African Union Commission that an agreement on the legislative framework for the establishment of the Court could be complete by the end of October 2017.

32.  I urge the African Union Commission and TGoNU to maintain the momentum achieved over the last few weeks and move to establish the Hybrid Court for South Sudan as soon as possible. As I have said before, accountability and justice are important building blocks for peace and reconciliation, and the Hybrid Court will constitute a cornerstone in building accountability and the rule of law for this Republic.

33.  A new Permanent Constitution is a pre-requisite for the conduct of elections at the end of the Transitional Period. Even though we are out of time, and rightly in pursuit of revitalization and revision of timelines, the initiation of a Permanent Constitution–making process remains a priority. The new constitution will embody the aspirations of the people of South Sudan and establish a benchmark for democratisation and the rule of law.

34.  It is a matter of regret, therefore, that even the process of incorporating the provisions of the Peace Agreement into the Transitional Constitution remains outstanding – it is now four months since the Constitutional Amendment Bill was handed over to the TGoNU by the National Constitutional Amendment Committee. I urge the TGoNU to finalise this process immediately and demonstrate its commitment to the Peace Agreement.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

35.  The six JMEC Working Committees are all meeting on a regular basis and since the last plenary, collectively, they have met twelve times.

36.  I should stress that the tasks of these Working Committees are not only to monitor and evaluate each chapter but also to provide advice and recommend remedial actions to be undertaken by the TGoNU and other bodies responsible for implementation of the Peace Agreement.

37.  Currently all Working Committees are in the process of preparing and adopting an evaluation of the current status of the Peace Agreement, chapter by chapter, with clear recommendations ahead of the High Level Revitalisation Forum.

38.  To this end, a JMEC Evaluation Workshop will result in a final evaluation report which I will forward to the Chairperson of IGAD as JMEC’s contribution to the IGAD High Level Revitalisation Forum.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

39.  I will now return to the issue of the IGAD-led High Level Revitalisation Forum for the Peace Agreement.

40.  We will all recall that the IGAD Council of Ministers met on 24th July 2017, for the first time in Juba. In their Communique that day, the Council of Ministers empowered the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan to coordinate the revitalization process including all stakeholders and institutions charged with the responsibility for the implementation of the Peace Agreement. The Council also urged all South Sudanese stakeholders to embrace the objectives of the High Level Revitalisation Forum and collaborate with the IGAD Special Envoy to achieve a positive outcome.

41.  It is essential to stress a number of issues regarding this Revitalisation Forum in order to avoid any misunderstandings:

a.    The Revitalisation Forum is an IGAD initiative mandated by the Summit of Heads of State and Government and executed by the Council of Ministers through the office of the new IGAD Special Envoy. Our role, as JMEC, is to support IGAD in its efforts to convene this Forum.

b.    Whilst the Forum sets out with three objectives – 1) to reinstate the Permanent Ceasefire; 2) to reinstate full and inclusive implementation of the Peace Agreement; and 3) to develop revised and realistic timelines for implementation towards elections at the end of the transition period – the outcomes of the Forum are not pre-determined.

c.     It will be for the Parties and estranged groups to determine and commit to the outcomes of this Forum. After all, in the end, the responsibility for the implementation of the Peace Agreement lies squarely with these same Parties.

d.    This is a Forum through which to explore options that can restore the prominence of the peace process taking account of current realities. It is our hope that this revitalisation process will be pursued in the spirit of peace, inclusivity and compromise.

42.  In JMEC’s perspective, for the Revitalisation process to succeed and for effective implementation of the Peace Agreement to be achieved, there is need for demonstrable political will by the Parties and estranged groups to be inclusive and to accommodate one another politically, rather than defeat each other militarily.

43.  We must all speak with “one voice” to the leaders of South Sudan and align our actions. There should be clear consequences for intransigent groups, spoilers and violations. The Parties must commit to adhere to any revised timelines and implementation schedules and there is need to determine and secure adequate funding for implementation of the revitalised Peace Agreement.

Honorable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

44.  Over the past week, there has been some unfortunate confusion and dispute over the deployment of advance elements of the Regional Protection Force. One impact of this dispute was the temporary grounding of all UN flights which had a direct impact on the operations of CTSAMM. This is deeply regretable and I urge TGoNU to resolve issues with UNMISS swiftly and facilitate the deployment of this force without further hindrance, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2304 (2016).

45.  To that end, I further urge IGAD to urgently convene the meeting between the Chiefs of Defence Forces of the Troop Contributing Countries, the TGoNU, and UNMISS as specified in the IGAD Communique of 12th June 2017. This meeting has not yet taken place and as a result, key issues affecting the practical deployment of this force have not been addressed and serious challenges are arising.

Honorable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

46.  I conclude with the following recommendations for this Plenary:

a.    We demand a total cessation of violence around the country and a commitment by all parties and groups to pursue a political path to reconciling their differences; we further urge all parties to the Peace Agreement to facilitate access to CTSAMM to conduct their work;

b.    We welcome and commit to the revitalisation of the implementation of the Peace Agreement, and call upon all parties and estranged groups to seize this opportunity and make concrete proposals for consideration at the Forum;

c.     In line with the Communique of the IGAD Summit of 12th June 2017, we urge IGAD to convene the meeting between the TGoNU, UNMISS and the Chiefs of Defence of the Troop Contributing Countries with regard to the deployment of the Regional Protection Force. We strongly recommend that this meeting be held in Juba.

d.    We urge the TGoNU to immediately conclude the Constitutional Amendment process, and to initiate the Permanent Constitution-making Process;

e.    ABOVE ALL we demand a sustained improvement of the conditions for delivery of humanitarian assistance; and finally,

f.      We urge full cooperation of all Parties and groups to fulfil the mandate of the Revitalisation Forum and I call upon the EU and IGAD to urgently convene the JMEC Partners Forum to discuss and commit support for the revitalisation process.

47.  I expect this Plenary to:

a.    receive a briefing from the TGoNU on recent progress made in implementing the Peace Agreement;

b.    receive an update from TGoNU and UNMISS on the current humanitarian situation, in particular on steps taken to facilitate unfettered humanitarian access;

c.     receive summary reports on the status of the various Boards and Commissions of the Peace Agreement and the progress towards their objectives; and,

d.    welcome the progress that is being made by the various JMEC Working Committees, and commend the Chairpersons and members for their commitment and contributions.

48.  Finally, I take this opportunity to thank all our partners in the TGoNU, the other South Sudanese stakeholders, IGAD, AU, Troika, EU, China, the UN, UNMISS, and the International Partners and Friends of South Sudan for their commitment and continued support to JMEC, and appeal for full support for the revitalization process.

49.  May God bless us all and continue to guide us in the relentless pursuit of peace.

I thank you.

Honorable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

1. I believe that we have had a productive JMEC Plenary today.
2. I thank the representatives of TGoNU for presenting a summary report on the progress the Government has made so far, as well as its stated continued commitment to the implementation of the Agreement, including measures it is undertaking to address the current economic challenges facing the country.
3. I must also thank the United Nations for providing a humanitarian update, and the various Boards and Institutions for their reports. To all those who made valuable and constructive contributions today, I say thank you.
4. From our discussions today, it is clear that the humanitarian situation, and with it the complete cessation of violence, remains the most critical challenge facing the people of South Sudan. Whilst concerted efforts are being made to respond to the overwhelming humanitarian needs, many challenges remain that hinder the timely and effective provision of humanitarian relief, particularly at the local level. I welcome the call for enhanced coordination of efforts of all stakeholders and I hope that this can be expedited immediately.
5. You will forgive me if I reiterate the key message that summarizes our collective approach. It is clear, I am afraid, that little has changed since we last met – we must continue the search for the means to end the violence and stop the fighting; we must continue to coordinate our efforts to end the crisis of hunger; and we must increase our efforts to engage all parties and communities in South Sudan and establish an inclusive National Dialogue.
6. I cannot emphasize enough, the need for:
   1. the concerted effort by all leaders, civilian and military, inside and outside South Sudan, to assert control over those loyal to you and bring violence and conflict to an immediate end;
   2. a willingness by all to find a comprehensive and inclusive political resolution to the conflict in South Sudan;
   3. a total commitment by all parties to the conflict to guarantee and facilitate access for humanitarian support, and to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations including violence against aid workers;

I thank you.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

1. I welcome you all to our April plenary.

2. At our last meeting in March, we posed three critical questions that have to be addressed – How do we stop the fighting? How do we stop people from dying of starvation? And how do we ensure inclusivity of the interests and concerns of all South Sudanese communities? Peace, relief and Since we last met, and pursuant to this agenda, I have undertaken a diplomatic tour to deliver our message.

3. In Addis Ababa, I addressed a meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council devoted specifically to South Whilst there I also briefed the Chairman of IGAD, H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

4. In New York, I attended and briefed a special South Sudan session of the United Nations Security Council convened and chaired by the UK Foreign Secretary, the Right Honourable Boris

5. In South Africa I met with the Vice President of the Republic of South Africa, E. Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as South Africa’s Special Representative to South Sudan, and then with Dr. Riek Machar, the former First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan. I will elaborate further on this meeting later in my remarks.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

6. March and April have been exceedingly difficult months for the people of South In our assessment, the security situation continues to deteriorate and I wish to express my gravest concern over the terrible, vindictive violence that persists in this country.

7. There can be no doubt that we now face a crisis within a Security is the foundation stone upon which we build economic and social confidence. This foundation stone no longer exists, confidence has evaporated, commerce is seizing up, prices are escalating and as a result, we now face a crisis of hunger that is undermining all our efforts to make peace.

8. The mothers of South Sudan face a daily struggle with inflation, never knowing if the money in their pocket will be sufficient to feed their Insecurity creates food shortages, which in turn drives inflation, that in turn results in hunger. A hungry man is an angry man; and angry men do not make peace.

9. Food shortages and increasing hunger are now our immediate problems. Out in the country, beyond the reach of government, the situation is increasingly desperate. Instability and hunger has created a surge of survival-criminality that further exacerbates the problem through stealing, looting and the prevention of free flowing commerce.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

10. I have appealed for peace directly to the President of the Republic of South Sudan, E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, to the First Vice President, General Taban Deng Gai, and finally to the former First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar. Despite these appeals from JMEC and international partners, Wau became a battlefield. The violence which ensued was an appalling failure of leadership and the reported thirty deaths that took place bore the hallmarks of retribution killings.

11. The border town of Pajok in Equatoria was attacked, reportedly resulting in the deaths of sixteen people and the destruction of the school and hospital; three oil workers were abducted in the North and eventually released; fighting broke out in Eastern Lakes state; and clashes occurred in Western Bahr El Ghazal, Upper Nile and Unity

12. Seven aid workers were killed in late March in an ambush along the road to Pibor, bringing to twelve the total number of aid workers killed in South Sudan so far this year, and seventy nine since the outbreak of fighting in It is simply deplorable that in 2017 we must still plead with a government for the safety of those who deliver humanitarian relief.

13. I utterly condemn all the violence that has taken place across the country but particularly in Wau and Pajok, and I ask that CTSAMM report their findings as soon as possible

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

14. Violence and conflict on this level is either centrally directed or locally orchestrated. I fear it is now time to acknowledge that, across the board, among all armed forces and armed groups, central structures of command and control appear to have broken Violence around the country is increasingly based on local decisions taken at local level. Armed groups may declare an allegiance to one leader or another, but they seem no longer to take their instructions from them.

15. All armed groups must regain control of their forces and restore the ceasefire with immediate I appeal to all South Sudanese leaders, both civilian and military and at every level, to remove the threat of violence and armed conflict and bring all hostilities to an end.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

16. UNMISS will report to us directly later but there can be no doubt that the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan shows little sign of abating.

17. The internal displacement of people continues at an alarming rate as armed forces, militias and other armed groups wreak havoc in the countryside. The UN has reported that in the wake of recent violence over 100,000 people are displaced in Jonglei State alone and there are now 9m people internally displaced nationally.

18. Over the past month refugees have continued to flee the violence and stream across borders into neighbouring countries, especially According to OCHA, the number of refugees now sits at 1.7m.

19. Following the IGAD Heads of State Summit in Nairobi on 25th March, JMEC responded to a request to confirm the immediate opening of humanitarian corridors, without conditionality, to allow safe access to affected populations across the Republic of South Sudan.

20. We reported that:

some new humanitarian corridors have been opened and specific requests had been granted for humanitarian aid workers to access areas previously denied, such as Wau Shilluk and Wonduruba;

although TGoNU is cooperating, humanitarian assistance continues to be delivered at a greater cost and less efficiency and there is still a lot to be done to improve the overall humanitarian access situation, as the Central Government does not appear to control decisions taken on the ground;

widespread insecurity and escalation of violence further complicates an already dire humanitarian situation;

the parties must adhere to the ceasefire agreement and facilitate unfettered access;

finally, humanitarian operations in South Sudan continue to face challenges due to both a failure by State and non-State actors’ to observe international humanitarian law.

21. I can only repeat that this humanitarian situation is predominantly man- made and the result of violence, conflict and the deliberate denial of access. Men, women and children are suffering and dying of starvation because the leadership at various levels is failing to prevent it.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

22. In the midst of the economic crisis, there were some encouraging signs towards the end of The Government’s plan to stabilize prices and the exchange rate contributed to a large decline in inflation over the period October 2016 through January 2017. As a consequence, significant further declines in purchasing power for salary earners were temporarily arrested.

23. However, we are now back to a deepening economic crisis as these improvements appear to be short Within the context of an annual inflation rate which peaked at 550 per cent in September 2016 and was down to 300 per cent in March 2017, monthly inflation amounted to 10 per cent on average in February and March 2017, as against 1.3 per cent in the previous four months. The exchange rate has weakened significantly, with depreciation accelerating through April, suggesting a risk of further worsening inflation in the months to come.

24. These developments suggest that government spending has out-paced available The advances in stabilizing the economy that became evident in the last quarter of 2016 will soon be totally lost unless steps are taken to adjust spending in line with financing.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

25. Turning now to the ARCSS, I wish to provide the following update on the implementation of the Agreement:

Since the last meeting, I can report that the National Constitutional Amendment Committee has completed the first phase of its The Committee has drafted the Constitutional Amendment Bill (2017) incorporating the Agreement into the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan (2011). The Bill was handed over to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs on 13thApril, 2017. The Agreement requires him to present it to the Council of Ministers and to the Transitional National Legislative Assembly for ratification within seven days of receipt.

It is envisioned that the Constitutional Amendment Bill will inform the Permanent Constitution making I therefore wish to appeal to the Ministry to expedite the process of enacting the Bill into law, as the Committee embarks on the next phase of its work.

The SDSR Board has not met formally since December 2016. However, despite significant challenges the SDSR Board has now planned a three-day workshop to review draft Strategies. We urge the SDSR Chairman to expedite the work of the Board and we request that the TGoNU confirm funding and urgently address its slow progress.

The Joint Military Ceasefire Commission has met six times since the last Plenary and are making progress towards establishment of a Cantonment support site at Molbor. The site is currently being assessed for de-mining. The JMCC has also established Working Groups for Cantonment and National Architecture Planning and reviews the progress of these working groups each week at the regular JMCC Board meetings.

Despite the difficulties surrounding freedom of movement, CTSAMM patrols are being planned and executed and the CTSAMM Board is due to meet to inform members of progress. I look forward to hearing their report today.

In the past four months, JMEC has formally submitted ten CTSAMM Board-certified violation reports to the SPLM and SPLM/IO and we have received no response or acknowledgement. I request that JMEC receives a formal response at the next Plenary in May.

Around 1,000 Joint Integrated Police are currently engaged in training at Rajaf. Delays to the vetting and registration process that I noted in my last address have not been resolved. Once again I request that the Inspector General of the South Sudan National Police and the Ministry of Interior expedite the approvals required to enable this vital component of Chapter Two to progress. I hope that the composition of this cadre is inclusive and represents the demographic and gender diversity of the country.

As outlined in the Agreement there is a requirement to demilitarize Juba, bringing troop totals down to 4,830 within twenty five kilometres of the capital. I encourage the JMCC to work closely with the Joint Management Team of the Joint Integrated Police and the Joint Operations Centre to clarify and facilitate coordination of these troop adjustments.

I am unable to report any progress in Chapter 5 (Transitional Justice).

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

26. Since the decision to adopt the proposal to establish six JMEC Working Committees, allocated as per the chapters of the Agreement and to work in close consultation with the three TGoNU clusters, I can report that five JMEC Working Committees have been constituted and have I wish to thank all the members of JMEC, including the TGoNU, for their strong support in ensuring that this initiative begins in a very positive and collaborative manner.

27. The tasks of these Working Committees are not only to monitor and evaluate but also to provide advice and recommend remedial action to be undertaken by the TGoNU and other bodies responsible for implementation of the We believe that, together with the strong commitment by all members and stakeholders, this will represent a considerable step forward in the discharge of our core mandate.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

28. Across South Sudan and beyond, there remains a considerable misunderstanding of the role and responsibility of this Commission.

29. The role of JMEC is explicitly and specifically to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the 2015 Agreement, and to recommend remedial action where necessary.

30. Month after month, we have faithfully and accurately monitored, evaluated and reported to all the Institutions stipulated in the Peace Agreement for them to take the necessary corrective measures.

31. But JMEC is the sum of its parts – twenty eight members drawn from across South Sudan’s governance and civil society, and representation from the region and the international community.

32. JMEC is not an alternative government and it cannot direct or manage governance in any way; it does not have an army, nor any power to separate fighting forces or impose a ceasefire; and it is not the panacea for the peace we so desperately want.

33. Those truly responsible for the continued violence and the lack of progress in the implementation of the Peace Agreement are the leaders of South Sudan, both those present in the country and those outside it.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

34. As I mentioned at the beginning, I have spent the past month engaged in a diplomatic mission with the leadership of the United Nations, African Union, IGAD, Special Envoys, South Africa and South Sudan.

35. In Pretoria three weeks ago, I met with Riek Machar, the former First Vice President of South Sudan. I want to be very clear about why I met with him and what I hope to achieve from this dialogue.

36. The fracture of the SPLM/IO that I mentioned in my last Plenary remarks, together with the emergence of other armed groups, has brought into sharp focus that a large constituency of South Sudanese people is excluded from the Peace Agreement – an exclusion that has led to a significant and unacceptable increase in armed conflict in South Sudan and created a humanitarian catastrophe.

37. To find a genuine and durable political solution, the South Sudanese leadership must be willing to listen, accommodate and But they must also first be engaged, for only when all the people and communities of South Sudan see that their interests and concerns are being addressed, can peace return to this country.

38. In the spirit of that engagement, I have now spoken to Machar and I will soon be speaking to other prominent South Sudanese political leaders, who could potentially contribute to the Peace Process. This is not about individuals. This is about achieving peace through an inclusive political process that accommodates everyone, and this is the cardinal principle within which all dialogue and engagement must be seen.

39. The message I conveyed to Machar was to renounce violence, declare a unilateral ceasefire and participate in the National Dialogue.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

40. In Addis Ababa last week, I met again with the Chairman of IGAD, and separately with the UN Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, and I briefed them on my consultations with Dr. Riek Machar.

41. With the Prime Minister, I discussed the way forward regarding the implementation of the Agreement and as a result, I will now reach out to other IGAD leaders as we seek to assert the influence of the region in the most constructive way possible.

42. I also took the opportunity to promote our ‘One Voice’ initiative – our request to the leaders and Special Envoys of IGAD, the African Union and the United Nations to engage with prominent political leaders of South Sudan and speak with “one voice”. I hope this will drive a peaceful, open and transparent dialogue that is imperative if we are to achieve an inclusive political process and silence the guns.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

43. I am encouraged by His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s visit to Kapoeta last Thursday and by the statement he delivered, in which he gave a commitment to guaranteeing safety of participants in the National Dialogue. As I highlighted during my speech to the last JMEC Plenary, the importance of inclusivity and trust-building among all South Sudanese stakeholders in the National Dialogue process is paramount.

44. In addition, we should always keep in mind that the National Dialogue is a platform to enhance and facilitate the implementation of the peace agreement in an inclusive As such we must also consider critical questions regarding the proposed National Dialogue, including: how it will address the root causes of conflict; what considerations are in place for wider participation of all South Sudanese; what mechanisms exist for guaranteeing safety of participants; and how to approach the National Dialogue within the context of fractured communities and militarised peripheries.

45. It has now been over four months since the announcement of the National Dialogue and I am concerned that the launch is continuously delayed and we know little of its implementation.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

46. I therefore recommend that JMEC must continue to demand:

the restoration and implementation of the ceasefire by the Parties to the Agreement;

the total cessation of violence around the country and a clear understanding surrounding the deployment of the Regional Protection Force;

the full and credible inclusion of all Parties and stakeholders in the political process;

the constant encouragement to the TGoNU to ensure a genuinely inclusive National Dialogue that involves all the estranged parties to the Agreement, other armed groups, civil society, women’s groups and other stakeholders;

the continued support to the NCAC to pass the necessary legislation and complete their work;

continued implementation of Chapter II Transitional Security Arrangements and cantonment activities; and,

an immediate and sustained improvement of the conditions for delivery of humanitarian

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

47. In conclusion, I expect this Plenary meeting to:

receive a briefing from the TGoNU on recent progress made in implementing the Agreement;

receive an update from TGoNU and UNMISS on the current humanitarian situation and the cooperation of the TGoNU to facilitate unhindered humanitarian assistance;

receive summary reports on the status of the various boards and commissions of the Agreement and the progress towards their objectives; and

provide support to the new JMEC Working Committee process for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the Agreement.

48. At the end of this Plenary meeting, I have invited a brief presentation from the JMEC representative of the Women’s Bloc so that we might better understand the devastating impact of insecurity on those most adversely affected within our society.

49. Finally, I take this opportunity to thank all our partners in TGoNU, the other South Sudanese stakeholders, IGAD, AU, Troika, EU, China, the UN, UNMISS, and the International Partners and Friends of South Sudan for their commitment and continued support to JMEC and the Peace Agreement for South Sudan.

50. May God bless us all and continue to guide us in the relentless pursuit of peace.