Friday, 13 June 2025
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) on Thursday, 12 June 2025, addressed the 1283rd African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC).
In his statement to the Council held virtually, the RJMEC Chairperson, Maj. Gen. George Owinow said the current situation in South Sudan continues to deteriorate, with the permanent ceasefire gravely undermined and the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) endangered.”
He added that the situation, if left unresolved, has the potential to further gravely undermine trust and confidence, national cohesion and reconciliation, thereby eroding the gains made in the last six years of implementation of the Peace Agreement.”
Referring to the goal of elections in December 2026, the RJMEC Chairperson said that there is an urgent need to address the current political impasse, “and then embark on an inclusive expedited process of constitution-making, unify the forces and prepare for a timely election.”
Noting that several high-level political and diplomatic efforts by IGAD, AU, UN, and International Partners have not yielded concrete results to unlock the political impasse prevailing in the country.
Owinow appealed to all the parties to cease all hostilities, fully adhere to the Permanent Ceasefire, and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected populations, including many that are now displaced due to the conflict.
He urged the quick resolution of the issue of the first vice President’s house arrest and detention of other SPLM/A-IO officials to allow their participation in implementing mechanisms of the revitalised peace agreement.
Owinow called on the leadership of all the parties to desist from taking actions that further erode the political trust and confidence in the Revitalised Agreement and resolve the political crisis through dialogue.
He further called for expansion of political and civic space to enable the return of peace partners to the Agreement mechanisms and further the creation of a conducive environment for implementation of elections-related tasks; and urged the government to faithfully adhere to its mandate to implement the R-ARCSS in letter and spirit to realise free, fair and credible elections in December 2026.
Concluding, Owinow informed the meeting that based on RJMEC’s recent bilateral consultations with RJMEC Members i.e., the parties to the agreement, other South Sudanese stakeholders and adherents, international partners and regional guarantors to the agreement, “it is evident that the revitalised peace deal remains the comprehensive and transformative blueprint which, if implemented fully in letter and spirit, will build a foundation for lasting peace, stability and the rule of law in the Republic of South Sudan.”
