South Sudan parties ‘selective’ on R-ARCISS implementation, says prominent activist  

JUBA – South Sudan parties to the revitalized peace agreement are getting very selective in their obligations to implement provisions of the peace agreement and are much interested in chapter one of the 2018 peace agreement, but are shy of the security arrangements which the most important part of the agreement in ending the conflict, Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO, said today.

In a statement extended to Sudans Post, Yakani said the implementation of the agreement and the stalemate regarding the 2018 peace deal requires an immediate action such as a peace presidency meeting between the parties to iron out issues affecting its implementation.

“The implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) requires urgent meeting of the presidency on the status of R-ARCSS implementation,” Yakani said.

He said the parties are becoming more selective on what to implement in the provisions of the agreement and what to not, something he said does not conform with the implementation mechanism of the revitalized peace agreement.

“The implementation of the R-ARCSS is getting too selective. The implementation of the political milestone is effective in terms of responsibility sharing but in terms of political decisions and commitment to delivering successful political transformation of the society from violence to peace there is dragging of feet a lot; the proposed reforms agenda is effective in reform of legislations but ineffective in reconstitution of essential national institutions; transitional security arrangements only ceasefire is holding but unification of the forces is dragging,” he said.

“Community Empowerment for Progress Organization view the presidency should hold urgent meeting on the status of R-ARCSS implementation since the end of the lifespan of R-ARCSS is approaching on 22nd February, 2023,” he added.

Yakani said that the ongoing “silence of the presidency on this issues of reaching early political decisions on the transition from 22nd February 2023 may put the country in serious political dilemma. Any political dilemma in the current political status of the country where communities are getting stronger armed than the state defense and security institutions is risk.”

“The current political confusion from the presidency around the issues of conduct of elections or no election in 2023, is making many individuals and institutions leaving in dilemma and some already begins predications about the future. To avoid individuals and institutions engaging in political dilemma and predications, it is essential for the presidency to begin early engagement on the way forward on the status of R-ARCSS implementation before 22nd February, 2023.

“The current dragging of feet on the graduation of the first branch of the unified forces already made majority of the public convinced that there is high deficit in trust among the parties on genuine implementation of R-ARCSS.

“CEPO in collaboration with other civil society will conduct R-ARCSS Implementation Survey which will involve public opinion polling on conduct elections and on way forward for transitioning from 22nd February, 2023. This exercise is intended to generate evidences for R-ARCSS implementation advocacy engagement.

“Finally, CEPO is urging the presidency to hold meeting on the status of R-ARCSS implementation and make political decisions on the way forward for transitioning from 22nd February, 2023.”