In his address to the meeting delivered virtually, RJMEC Interim Chairperson Ambassador Major General (Rtd) George Aggrey Owinow informed the esteemed Council that since RJMEC’s last briefing to the Council in February 2025, “the political and security situation in the Republic of South Sudan has substantially deteriorated”.

Noting repeated violations of the permanent ceasefire and numerous unilateral dismissals and appointments of officials at the national and State levels in breach of the letter and spirit of the responsibility-sharing arrangements under the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), Owinow said the situation “has rendered the implementation of the R-ARCSS virtually untenable.”

He continued: “The current situation and trajectory in the country, if not urgently addressed, risks to reverse all that has been gained and may lead to a collapse of the R-ARCSS, which could return the country back to an armed conflict.” 

However, the RJMEC Chairperson told the meeting that “the R-ARCSS, in spite of all its challenges, has restored relative peace across the country, with numerous peace dividends, since its signing in September 2018 and remains a blueprint for the building of a lasting peace and stability in the country. 

He added, “it will be tragic if the gains of the R-ARCSS to date are lost beyond restoration.” In his recommendations, Amb. Owinow asked the Council to endorse the call by the IGAD Summit and the AUPSC to the South Sudanese Government to de-escalate tensions, address the issue of the First Vice President  and all the other detainees, embrace dialogue, and return to full and inclusive implementation of the R-ARCSS and adhere to its letter and spirit.

“RJMEC, therefore, appeals to this esteemed Council to bring its leverage to bear in order to salvage the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement and to remain seized of the situation in South Sudan.”