![South Sudan activist Rajab Muhandis. [Photo via Bakhita Radio]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/EbvzxTNX0AIGVHn.jpg?quality=89&ssl=1)
Muhandis this week resigned from the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) accusing President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s government of deliberately failing to implement the peace agreement which he said has led to flare up of violence among opposition groups including the SPLM-IO.
“The inconsistencies in the peace implementation are only setting the country up for more crises. For example, delays to implement the transitional security arrangements present serious security threats to the peace process and the civil population,” Muhandis said in the statement detailing why he resigned from the R-JMEC.
“Soldiers desert the cantonment sites and training centers and return to civilian areas with their guns while others, like in Kit Gwang, resort to mass defections all because of frustrations with the failure to implement the transitional security arrangements,” he added.
He said the government is not allowing citizens to contribute freely in the implementation process of the revitalized peace agreement as evidenced in the arrest and threat on civil society organizations by the country’s National Security Service (NSS).
“Citizens are not freely allowed to contribute to the peace process. On several occasions, civil society meetings on the peace agreement are either not approved or interrupted and closed down by National Security Service,” he added.
“Implementation of the R-ARCSS is characterized by establishment of institutions, including legislative bodies that remain largely dysfunctional, not delivering on their stipulated mandates,” he added.
He further said “In the RJMEC plenary sessions, the security mechanisms including the DDR Commission agonize so much trying to find support and resources to implement their mandates.”
“Their pleas mainly end on the floor of the plenary at the conclusion of each session. Lastly, there is no hope in a national process that is implemented in piece meal fashion only after intense regional and international pressure.”
Mr. Rajab Muhandis is wrong.
First of all, the peace agreement is a give and take therefore, one side alone cannot and will not implementing the entire peace process. The SPLA I0 have been seen working on their party line and the same thing on the ruling party SPLM.
Both leaders were engaged fully in trying to implementing the peace agreement. Simon Gatwech Dual has been appointed as a Presidential advisor for peace agreement and he rejected citing, he would like to see security arrangements first and who will do it if he refuses to be part of the process. I don’t see why the President should be blamed while, the peace agreement need all parties to cooperate if they were truly committed for lasting peace in South Sudan.