Outgoing Interim Chairperson Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai – Courtesy
As I depart South Sudan after four-and-a-half years as Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), there’s a lot for me to replicate upon. There are quite a few successes to spotlight, but additionally, importantly, there are many potential alternatives that may be simply exploited inside the shortest time attainable to maneuver the method of the implementation of the revitalized settlement a lot sooner.
At the outset, reflecting on the successes of the R-ARCSS, you will need to observe that the South Sudan which I depart now in February 2025, in comparison with the years earlier than 2018 when the Agreement was signed, has skilled way more relative stability and peace, with governance establishments working regardless of all the chances.
RJMEC is the official physique established with the mandate, amongst others, to supervise, monitor and consider the standing of implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict within the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) which was shaped in February 2020, and its numerous establishments and buildings on the nationwide, State and Administrative Areas ranges, likewise endure and supply management. Over time, the events within the unity authorities have adopted dialogue as a peaceable technique of resolving intra- and interparty political variations.
The authorized frameworks which offer a agency basis upon which the nation continues to be constructed and strengthened are being enacted and operationalized. For instance, the National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) has accomplished its mandate, and in doing so, reviewed and amended 25 items of laws, lots of which have been handed by the TNLA.
Whenever carried out, the varied kinds of legal guidelines handed will go a great distance in reworking the totally different elements of public life, together with enhancing good governance, safety sector transformation, entrenching the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation, and selling transparency and accountability within the financial sector. In the justice sector, the advert hoc Judicial Reform Committee (JRC) has additionally accomplished its mandate, which was to check and advocate applicable judicial reforms to the RTGoNU, which is now contemplating the JRC’s report. Its suggestions, if acted upon, will make society a fairer place for all of the South Sudan’s residents.
Clearly, the strongest successes lie in constructing sturdy frameworks for the way forward for the nation, however as I depart, it’s clear to me that rather more might be constructed on these frameworks. I’ve lengthy stated that the R-ARCSS is a transformative blueprint for main the Republic of South Sudan right into a extra secure and affluent future, and inside the pages of the R-ARCSS is the place the alternatives are clearly set out. The path to a greater future is thought. In reality, these aren’t mere alternatives, however solemn guarantees made by the Parties to the Agreement to the folks of South Sudan.
It is well-known that the tempo of implementation of the R-ARCSS all through its lifetime since 2018 has been typically gradual, and that implementation of key duties remains to be pending. There have been two extensions throughout my time in South Sudan, collectively amounting to 4 years, which has fed into a sense amongst many individuals of South Sudan that they’re caught in an infinite perpetual cycle of transitions. None of those extensions was acceptable to the folks of South Sudan and every extension to the Agreement has been a possibility missed to ship the guarantees made to the folks.
As the second extension begins tomorrow, with the quick time left earlier than the scheduled elections in December 2026, I wish to underscore the significance of instantly prioritizing the important thing pending duties of the R-ARCSS with a critical sense of urgency. Put merely, the processes for the making of the everlasting structure and preparation for elections must be launched in earnest.
More so, completion of the unification of forces and their redeployment must be expedited. However, it’s regarding that within the first two months of this yr, clashes have been reported between two forces of the signatory events to the Agreement, in Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal States and in Nasir County in Upper Nile State.
This is a critical setback contemplating that during the last 4 years, there was relative peace with none main safety incidents between the forces of the events to the R-ARCSS. This additional highlights the urgency and necessity of the unification of forces.
Meanwhile, reconciliation and therapeutic by means of the transitional justice mechanisms will contribute to acknowledging previous wrongs, selling therapeutic and reconciliation, strengthening democratic establishments, upholding worldwide human rights requirements, and in bettering social cohesion and co-existence. The mechanisms can even contribute to bettering political and civic setting by which the structure is drafted, and elections happen.
It is likewise necessary to proceed the financial reforms envisaged in R-ARCSS, thereby bettering transparency and accountability within the monetary sector. Similarly, establishing funds mandated by the Agreement, such because the Women Enterprise Development Fund, and the Youth Enterprise Development Fund would pave the way in which to assuaging the present dire financial state of affairs dealing with these teams. With rising costs for staples and diminished buying energy, life has turn out to be more and more insufferable to most South Sudanese.
It is subsequently necessary for the RTGoNU to reply to the humanitarian wants of the nation and to progressively scale back dependency on exterior support supplied by the worldwide group funded NGOs and different organizations. Now can be the time for RTGoNU to think about what RJMEC has lengthy advocated for: the institution of the Special Reconstruction Fund and Board, to pave the way in which for the convening the South Sudan pledging convention for mobilization of the requisite sources urgently wanted for the R-ARCSS implementation and post-conflict reconstruction restoration of the nation.
Evidently, there’s a lot to be accomplished, and with solely 24 months of the extension interval, it’s important that the actions on the a part of the RTGoNU are actively energized and injected with a way of urgency, dedication and with reasonable, implementable work plans. This would require the RTGoNU to prepared the ground in offering the mandatory political will and devoted funding for all of the Agreement establishments and mechanisms.
We typically discuss of the letter and spirit of the Agreement, that means we have to perceive the actual intent and the guts and spirit of what’s written within the Agreement. This subsequently provides readability on what must be accomplished and how it’s accomplished. Political enterprise, engagement, dedication and dedication to the trigger, belief constructing, and cooperation among the many Parties exemplify political will. This is of paramount significance and is far wanted to information the method at this important interval of the Agreement implementation.
The potential to perform this implementation within the coming 24 months will solely be realized by means of real focus and demonstration of these parameters, together with consensus-building and deliberate effort of the Parties cooperating and sustaining the goals and aims of the method, with clear targets that have to be achieved inside timelines.
Therefore, my parting message to you, the Parties to the R-ARCSS, is to put aside any distrust from the previous, acknowledge the historic alternative which sits earlier than you now, and to construct not solely your legacies, however extra importantly, lay ‘the foundation for a united, peaceful and prosperous society based on justice, equality, respect for human rights and the rule of law.’ This is the promise you made to the good folks of South Sudan, you’ve got an obligation to make it occur.
God Bless South Sudan, and God Bless the People of South Sudan!
EDITORIAL: The views expressed on this article are solely these of the author. The accuracy of any claims made is the accountability of the creator and never of this web site. The creator is the outgoing Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) – South Sudan.