South Sudan ceasefire monitors to lay off staff in January over funding shortages

JUBA – South Sudan’s ceasefire monitoring body on Monday revealed plans to reduce the number of its staff from 8 to 6 due to due to funding shortfall.

Speaking during the body’s extraordinary board meeting held in Juba on Monday, Maj. Gen. Haillu Gonfa Eddosa Chairperson of Ceasefire Transitional Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) said the number of staff will be cut in January 2024 due to lack of funding.

“Due to a reduction in donor support, CTSAMVM will be downsizing in January. The number of MVTs will be reduced from 8 to 6, and there will also be a reduction in the number of Headquarters staff,” said Gen. Haillu.

He said this reduction will create further challenges for the ceasefire monitoring body.

“This reduction will create further challenges for the Mission. Please understand that we will all have to learn how to manage with considerably fewer resources,” he said.

“However, I am confident we can continue to fulfill our mandate provided we have the full cooperation and understanding of the CTC and the CTSAMVM Board,” he added.

In 2021, the government took over the responsibility of paying the nationals on the ceasefire monitoring teams.

The government disbursed $295,200 to CTSAMVM to clear arrears of its national monitors after the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) -body which mediated the peace deal declined to pay South Sudan nationals on ceasefire teams.

On July 15, 2022, the U.S. government cut off its financial support for RJMEC and CTSAMVM due to lack of progress on the implementation of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.