R-JMEC chief worried by lack of funds, unclear timeline for peace implementation

JUBA – The interim Chairperson of South Sudan’s Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC), Charles Tai Gituai, on Saturday demanded enough funds and a clear timeline for the completion of critical tasks provided for in the 2018 peace deal.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Gituai appealed for a clear strategy with timelines for the implementation of the critical outstanding tasks of the 2018 pact.

“Although commendable progress has been made towards implementation of some provisions of the R-ARCSS to date, overall, this has been slow and a number of critical Agreement tasks remain outstanding,” Gituai said in a statement seen by Sudans Post.

The R-JMEC Chairperson called on the government to avail necessary resources to the Joint Defense Board (JDB) and other security mechanisms to complete the outstanding tasks.

Being encouraged by the recent agreement on the unification of the army command, Gittuai urged the parties “to consider that a budget be dedicated and necessary resources availed to the Joint Defense Board (JDB) and the other Security Mechanisms to complete their assigned tasks.”

The transition is due to end in December, with the 2023 polls ushering in a democratic government but many provisions are yet to be completed.

These include the security arrangement which calls for the unification of armed forces.

The security arrangement should have been completed before the establishment of the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) but lack of will and resources-as government claims-has prevented the graduation of the forces.

The retired Kenyan army commander who had served in several peace missions expressed deep disappointment over slow progress in the implementation of the security arrangement, one of critical tasks in 2018 peace deal.

“Finally on this subject, the lack of funding to the DDR Commission remains of great concern. I would like to appeal to this Council to consider DDR as an integral component of the unification of forces.”