Vice President for Economic Cluster, Dr. Bol Mel, was speaking during a meeting with ceasefire monitor chairperson, where they discussed peace process

By Emmanuel Mandella

In a crucial step toward cementing peace and boosting national development, Vice President Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel on Tuesday met with Major General Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, Chairperson of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), to review and accelerate the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

The high-level meeting, held in Juba, centered on revitalizing momentum around the peace accord, with both leaders agreeing that the country’s stability and economic prosperity depend on fully realizing the agreement’s provisions.

Major General Yitayal stressed on the importance of unwavering commitment from all signatories. “The success of the peace process hinges on the commitment of all signatories,” Maj. Gen. Yitayal stated.

Dr. Bol Mel reaffirmed the government’s full support for the R-ARCSS, emphasizing that the vision of President Salva Kiir Mayardit of a peaceful, united, and prosperous South Sudan remains the nation’s guiding principle. “Peace is the bedrock of our economic transformation,” Dr. Bol Mel stated. “With sustained stability, we can unlock domestic and foreign investment, expand our agricultural potential, build modern infrastructure, create jobs, and uplift every South Sudanese household.”

He further called on all citizens and stakeholders to uphold their role in safeguarding peace, warning that the nation’s hard-won progress could falter without collective responsibility. “The path to a stronger South Sudan lies in unity, dialogue, and a collective determination to protect the peace we all cherish.”

The meeting comes at a time when South Sudan is racing against time to meet key benchmarks of the peace agreement ahead of the proposed elections.

Repeated violations to the peace agreement

The meeting comes on the back of a report by the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), which noted repeated to the peace deal by the parties.

“In scenes not seen since the signing of the R-ARCSS over six years ago, armed conflict and violence erupted across the country, several high-ranking opposition members and Parliamentarians were detained and imprisoned and the First Vice President Dr Riek Machar Teny was put under house arrest,” said RJMEC in its first quarter report, published between January to March 2025.

While there were various reshuffles in ministerial positions and the presidency, the peace monitor said, portfolios within some Agreement institutions and mechanisms were abandoned.

“In some parts of the country, civilians including women and children have borne the brunt of the fallout and have suffered serious human rights and humanitarian law violations including death, injury and displacement due to military operations and connected armed clashes,” the body added, casting a pale shadow on the staggering process of the implementation of the peace agreement.

“In scenes not seen since the signing of the R-ARCSS over six years ago, armed conflict and violence erupted across the country,” said R-JMEC in its first quarter report.