Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

1. We have had a good meeting and deliberations today. I want to thank you all for the important issues that were raised and discussed. I also thank the TGoNU, the Special Representative to the Secretary General (SRSG), and Chairpersons of the various boards and commissions who provided briefings today. I hope we shall receive reports from the JMCC and JIP in the next plenary.
2. Let me also thank the Hon. Minister Martin Elia Lomuro for the update on the progress made in the implementation of the Peace Agreement. We have taken note of the steps being taken to resolve the representation of the Other Political Parties, the training of the JIP and establishment of its mechanisms, the steps being taken to address the humanitarian crisis, the initiation of economic & financial institutional reforms, and the update on the Technical Committee for the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing (CTRH).
3. However, we continue to urge the TGoNU to do more, to address the humanitarian crisis and to expedite implementation of all aspects of the Peace Agreement.
4. We also thank the UNMISS SRSG for his briefing on the humanitarian situation. It’s clear that the continuation of violence remains the biggest obstacle to our humanitarian efforts. We must therefore CONTINUE to urge the parties to restore and observe the permanent ceasefire, and for the TGoNU to continue its efforts to ensure unfettered delivery of humanitarian assistance.
5. In this regard, I note the concerns raised by our members on the reported increment of fees to be levied on humanitarian agencies in this difficult time. I urge the TGoNU to take these concerns into account and to ensure that requisite fees do not serve to impede the delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance to the affected people.
6. We should also commend the Chairpersons of the Agreement Boards and Commissions for their reports:
7. NCAC: we commend the NCAC for the progress made so far, and encourage them to continue with the second phase of their work as reported;
8. CTSAMM: we commend CTSAMM for its report, and take note of all reported incidents of violations of the permanent ceasefire. As JMEC, we urge all parties to observe the ceasefire and take steps to prevent further violations.
9. SDSR: we welcome the report of the SDSR and commend the board for the efforts to get this important work up to speed. We note with concern the funding challenges affecting the work of the SDSR, and I continue to urge our partners to support this critical work. I urge the TGoNU to support the work of these boards and commissions and provide funding.

Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen;

Our meeting today has achieved the following outcomes. We have;

1. received a detailed briefing from the TGoNU on progress that have been made so far in implementing the Peace Agreement and urged it to do more and expedite the process;
2. received a briefing from the UNMISS SRSG on the current humanitarian situation in the country, noted his recommendations on steps that needs to be taken to address this crisis;
3. received reports from all the boards and commissions of the Peace Agreement and commend the modest progress they have made thus far;
4. commended the Chairpersons and members of all the JMEC Working Committees in the efforts thus far. We also take note of the TGoNUs concerns on how to effectively complement their work. Our understanding is that the Working Committees should meet once a month unless absolutely necessary;
5. welcomed the declaration of a unilateral ceasefire by the government, urged all groups to reciprocate and recommended that practicle steps should be taken to ensure that it is observed and verified by CTSAMM;
6. Finally, we recieved a presentation from the Civil Society Organisations representative, and welcomed her recommendations to the TGoNU and all of us here.

I thank you

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

1. I welcome you all to our May Plenary. Last week marked a historic moment in the birth of this young nation – the 34^th anniversary of the launch of the South Sudan’s People’s Liberation Movement. I congratulate all the leaders and people of South Sudan on this important milestone.
2. The theme for this anniversary is very important and timely. “Let us dialogue to forgive one another for sustainable reconciliation, peace and development.” It is a matter of deep regret, however, that, after a successful liberation struggle, this historic liberation movement now finds itself embroiled in fighting among former comrades.
3. I want to appeal to all the sons and daughters of this land, to use this 34^th anniversary to summon the spirit of comradeship that won their liberation to heal the bitter divide between SPLM factions which are now engaged in such unfortunate and destructive conflict.
4. For peace and stability to endure in this country, and for the fruits of the liberation to translate into reality, we need a strong, united peaceful and democratic South Sudan.
5. I therefore welcome H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit’s call for nationalism and patriotism on this day, and I want to appeal to the government and all the parties in opposition to honor the sacrifices that have been borne by all South Sudanese by making peace, not waging more war.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

6. The official launch of the National Dialogue this week is therefore very timely and a welcome development. I am encouraged by the declaration that the National Dialogue will be inclusive, transparent and conducted with integrity.
7. The National Dialogue does not replace the implementation of the Peace Agreement; it is complementary. Let us all give peace and dialogue a chance in order to create a conducive environment for the full implementation of the Agreement.
8. I commend the President for declaring a unilateral ceasefire and for recommending the release of political detainees. I urge all those in Opposition to follow suit immediately.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

9. We are now into the eighteenth month of the the implementation of the ARCSS and since this Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission was formed, and thirteen months into the Transition Period following the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) on April 29, 2016. This means, we have barely seventeen months left to October 2018 and the end of the Transitional Period.
10. Some of the JMEC Working Committees have now held their second or third meetings since our last Plenary, and they have developed and adopted a roburst framework for evaluating progress for each chapter of the Agreement.
11. I am encouraged by the real commitment and determination of all the Working Committees to undertake their tasks. I am confident that the work of these Committees will constitute an important and integral part of JMEC’s assessment, reporting and recommendations in the months ahead.
12. I must also appreciate the commitment and determination shown by members of JMEC. Even the modest progress we have made so far would not have been possible without your concerted efforts and sustained contributions.
13. However, time is catching up with the implementation of the Agreement. Our pace is far too slow and the situation is not getting any better. We need to ask more questions and demand more concrete steps from the TGoNU to expedite the implementation of the Agreement.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

14. Since the last Plenary, more fighting has been reported between the SPLA-IG and SPLA-IO (Machar) in Tonga, Kodok, and Aburoc in Upper Nile and very recently in Wau and Waat. Ambushes and attacks against civilians took place on Juba-Bor road and in Parajok.
15. JMEC condemns this senseless continuation of violence and the resulting loss of civilian life and urges CTSAMM to quickly verify and report the parties responsible.
16. These ongoing violations of the permanent ceasefire by the SPLA-IG and SPLA-IO MUST stop, and I expect the JMCC to make substantial recommendations to help the TGoNU and JMEC to achieve this outcome. The other armed groups contributing to these violence MUST also stop and pursue a peaceful path towards engagement in the peace process.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

17. I remain deeply concerned by the continuous deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country. The ongoing hostilities exacerbate the challenges and create even more humanitarian needs.
18. The renewed violence reported in Yuai, Waat, Tonga and Kodok areas reportedly displaced between 50,000 and 100,000 people, of which at least 25,000 people fled to Aburoc and Sudan.
19. According to the UN OCHA Humanitarian Bulletin of May 9^th, 2017, the number of South Sudanese refugees in the neighbouring countries continues to grow and has reached 1.8 million, while the number of internally displaced persons now stands at about 2 million.
20. These figures are staggering and continue to illustrate the scale of the impact of the ongoing conflict. Civilians are routinely and forcefully removed from their villages by the conflict and have their lives uprooted and livelihoods dismantled.
21. Yet humanitarian access remains a constant challenge. For example, it is regrettable that the recent conflicts in Waat and Walgak in Jonglei state resulted in the relocation of the humanitarian aid workers from the area. The violence that caused this cannot by any stretch of imagination be said to be defensive.
22. More South Sudanese continue to flee violence and face a growing reality of hunger, all the while wondering if they will ever see the peace dividend that implementation of the Agreement is expected to deliver.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

23. The prospect of famine spreading to other parts of the country is also increasing. When famine was first declared, it was in the two counties of Leer and Mayendit. But now Koch, a third county, is also reported to be on the verge of famine. These are clear warnings that if the fighting does not stop, the number of food insecure people in South Sudan could rise for months particularly during the raining season.
24. While I extol the efforts of the region, international community and friends of South Sudan in their response to address the humanitarian catastrophe, I continue to appeal for more good will and urgent action. The South Sudan 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan projected that at least 1.6 billion US Dollars would be required for humanitarian response in the country, but only 27 per cent of the required funding has been received so far – leaving a funding shortfall of about USD 1.2 billion.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

25. As I promised in my last address to this Plenary, I have continued with my diplomatic engagments in the region, specifically in line with our One Voice initiative, and I consulted with regional leaders and some South Sudanese stakeholders in the pursuit of peace.
26. I held consultations with the IGAD Chairperson H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and the AU Commission Chairperson, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, and briefed them on the deliberations we had here in Juba and the situation in the country.
27. I also met with H.E. Omar al-Bashir, President of Sudan, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda, and H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya. The purpose of my diplomatic mission within the region was to identify a path out of the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis.
28. I appealed for us all to adopt “one voice” in our engagment with the leaders of South Sudan, and the need for the regional leaders to align their messages and actions to prevent the situation in South Sudan from further deterioration.
29. The regional leaders expressed their grave concern with the recent escalation of violence, the ongoing violation of the permanent ceasefire and the worsening humanitarian situation in the country. They emphasised that the conflict in this country requires a political, not military solution and they demanded wider inclusivity of and dialogue amongst the belligerents.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

30. I also had the opportunity to meet with some of the key South Sudanese stakeholders currently in opposition. I met with Madam Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, former detainees Pagan Amum, Kosti Manibe, Dr. Majak and Dr. Cirino Hiteng, and also with Dr. Lam Akol, Thomas Cirillo, James Oryema and others in order to listen to their grievances.
31. My message to all of them was that those who are still fighting should stop immediately for the sake of this country that they say they love so much, and that all serious parties should pursue a political path to return to the Peace Process.
32. In principle they welcomed my message. They demanded a negotiated ceasefire and expressed their willingness to participate in a credible political process outside South Sudan that might lead to their return to the implementation of the Peace Agreement. In this regard they underlined the importance of the deployment of the Regional Protection Force.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

33. JMEC welcomes the recent progress made by the National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) in incorporating the ARCSS into the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan (2011), and for embarking on the relevant legislative review and amendments process.
34. However, it is regrettable that the TGoNU has delayed the submission of this Amendment Bill to the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and missed the deadline prescribed by the Agreement.
35. I urge the TGoNU to expedite this constitutional amendment process and also to immediately initiate a Permanent Constitution making process.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

36. The economic crisis continues, driven by declining oil production, low oil prices and decline in food production. The South Sudanese Pound (SSP) continues to depreciate and inflation remains high. However the economic measures implemented by the TGoNU to enhance economic stability have had some success.
37. There has been a substantial decline in the budget deficit and a marked decline in the inflation rate from 550 percent per annum in September 2016 to 273 percent per annum in April 2017. More recently, after reaching a peak of 200 SSP/USD in April 2017, the exchange rate fell to a range of 140-160 SSP/USD in mid-May.
38. If the authorities continue to pursue tighter fiscal and monetary policies, inflation and exchange rate depreciation can be expected to moderate further thus contributing to an improvement in the overall economic stability.
39. The country will continue to face a difficult budget situation over the medium term as, given the low oil prices and production trends, net oil revenue cannot be expected to increase significantly anytime soon. New domestically financed spending for development and other services will require reallocation within the present budget envelope.
40. Even amidst these economic challenges and budgetary constraints, an end to the hostilities will bring about a tangible peace dividend and ease some economic burdens for the people of South Sudan. The present threats to their lives and property will recede, and people will be able to return home, rebuild their lives and resume productive livelihoods.
41. Specifically, the return of farmers to their land will increase food supplies in the markets and lower prices. Safer transport routes and more stable economic conditions will add marketable goods and stimulate economic activity.
42. Ultimately, implementing broad and sustained development initiatives in South Sudan will require peace, but robust planning for post-conflict development programmes should start immediately. I urge the TGoNU to continue with its reforms and put in place a framework that will ensure the best use of its available resources.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

43. I therefore recommend that JMEC must continue to demand:
    1. full commitment by all parties to the restoration and implementation of the permanent ceasefire;
    2. total cessation of violence around the country and a commitment to pursue a political path to reconciling their differences;
    3. deployment of the Regional Protection Force to build confidence and encourage a return to inclusive implementation of the Peace Agreement;
    4. full and credible inclusion of all parties and stakeholders in the National Dialogue and implementation of the Peace Agreement;
    5. immediate initiation of the Permanent Constitution making process and a clear timeline to the end of the Transition Period;
    6. continued implementation of Chapter II Transitional Security Arrangements and cantonment activities; and allow unhindered and unfettered access to CTSAMM, and
    7. ABOVE ALL an immediate and sustained improvement of the conditions for delivery of humanitarian assistance; and
    8. the fast-tracking of the Amendment Bill incorporating the ARCSS into the Transitional Constitution and continued support to the NCAC to review and amend the necessary legislation within their mandate.
       1. reiterate our appeal to the IGAD leaders to speak with one voice, and align the messages and actions to South Sudanese leaders.

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

44. In conclusion, I expect this Plenary to:
    1. receive a briefing from the TGoNU on recent progress made in implementing the Peace Agreement;
    2. receive an update from TGoNU and UNMISS on the current humanitarian situation, in particular on steps taken to facilitate unfettered humanitarian access;
    3. receive summary reports on the status of the various boards and commissions of the Peace Agreement and the progress towards their objectives; and,
    4. welcome the progress that is being made by the various JMEC Working Committees and commend the Chairpersons and members for their commitment and contributions.
45. At the end of this Plenary, I shall invite a brief presentation from the JMEC Civil Society representative.
46. 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 process in South Sudan.
47. May God bless us all and continue to guide us in the relentless pursuit of peace. 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.

President of the Security Council;

Secretary General;

1. I would like to thank the President of the Security Council, the British Foreign Secretary, Right Honorable Boris Johnson, for his kind invitation to brief you all today. I would also like to thank the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, for his accurate and detailed description of the current situation in South Sudan.

2. I do not intend to cover the same ground within what little time we have. Suffice to say that, in the eight months since the outbreak of violence last July, the security, economic and humanitarian situation in South Sudan has steadily deteriorated to an unacceptable level.

3. The Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism now report deliberate, planned conflict between the main Parties to the Agreement. The SPLA-IG and the SPLA-IO loyal to Dr. Riek Machar, as well as other emerging armed groups, engage in the destruction of lives and communities in total violation of the ceasefire.

4. Across the board, there is a heightened sense of alarm over the fact that the situation is slipping out of control. It is time now for the international community to condemn in the strongest terms the violence, the killings, the human rights abuses and the destruction of homes. We must now stand together to do something about it.

Mr President,

5. Whether by design or default, a war is being waged around South Sudan and I wish to spell out the three defining questions that we all face right now.

6. How do we stop the fighting? How do we stop innocent people dying of starvation? And how do we ensure that the interests and concerns of all South Sudanese communities are fully represented and considered? Peace, relief and inclusivity.

7. These three issues are wholly interconnected. The humanitarian crisis, now officially a famine, is the direct result of insecurity and armed violence perpetrated by all Parties to the Agreement.

8. This insecurity and armed violence is a direct result of the perception and reality of political exclusion from the peace process.

9. And therefore, 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, and the people return to normal life.

10. There can never be a military solution in South Sudan; nor can a military or political regime be imposed upon any one side by any other. To find a genuine and durable political solution, the South Sudanese leadership must be willing to listen, accommodate and compromise.

11. In the interim, we must urgently look again at all possible practical measures that we can take to alleviate the desperate suffering that millions of people are facing every day. Women especially have suffered the greatest injustices and born the greatest burden of conflict, and all Parties to the Agreement are failing in their basic duty to protect the South Sudanese people.

Mr President,

12. The international community must acknoweldge that since the events of July 2016, a split in the SPLM/IO has resulted in two clear opposition factions: one loyal to Dr. Riek Machar which is still fighting and has been excluded from all Agreement Institutions, and the other loyal to General Taban Deng Gai, who are cooperating with the Government.

13. I have had important discussions with the President of South Sudan primarily focused on the National Dialogue initiative, and the need for it to be genuinely and sincerely inclusive, not simply a discussion with those who agree with the Government.

14. I reiterate my view that the National Dialogue must be authentic, autonomous and impartially-led for it to be credible and deliver a reliable representation of all views and concerns. A National Dialogue conducted in this fashion would contribute to the pursuit of the peace process in the spirit of the Agreement.

Mr President,

15. I remain of the firm conviction that the Peace Agreement remains the only viable framework through which to recover the peace process, drive inclusive engagment and re-establish momentum. However hard it may be, I urge all Parties, Guarantors and Partners to continue to support the Peace Agreement and the implementation of its provisions.

16. With regard to the implementation of the Agreement, I can report only modest progress:

1. The National Constitution Amendment Committee started slowly but is now on course to complete the review of the Constitution before the end of this month.

1. CTSAMM is monitoring and investigating violations of the ceasefire but is regularly denied freedom of movement by all armed groups.

1. The Joint Military Ceasefire Commission, the Joint Integrated Police and the Strategic Defence and Security Review Board continue to develop their plans very slowly but, as stated earlier, to the exclusion of the SPLM/IO (Machar).

1. I have called upon the TGoNU to demonstrate commitment to these Agreement Institutions by providing the required resources and facilities and accelerating delivery. I encourage the regional and international partners to support them.

1. Beyond the establishment of the Technical Committee for the National Consultative Process for the establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTHR), there has been no further progress on establishing Chapter Five mechanisms and institutions. I have yet to hear from the African Union Commission on the establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan.

1. These are matters of great concern. Given the escalation of the conflict, progress towards Chapter Five mechanisms is needed now more than ever before and I appeal to all Parties to move with haste to enable their swift establishment.

Mr President,

17. Finally, my recommendation is that we, the international community, must:

1. demand peace and the total cessation of violence around the country with one voice;
2. activate the immediate deployment of the Regional Protection Force and support the implementation of Chapter II Transitional Security Arrangements;
3. demand the full and credible inclusion of all Parties and stakeholders in the peace process;
4. constantly encourage the TGoNU to conduct a genuinely inclusive and impartial National Dialogue;
5. endeavour to achieve an immediate improvement of the conditions for the delivery of humanitarian assistance; and
6. ensure a renewed effort to create the Hybrid Court for South Sudan and thereby establish the mechanism for the prosecution of those who perpetrate atrocities and human rights abuses.

18. In conclusion, therefore, and in the face of an ever-worsening situation, I believe that only a resolute and unified approach by IGAD, the African Union, United Nations and the international community as a whole can restore hope to the people of South Sudan.

19. Thank you, Mr President.