RJMEC interim chair says success of South Sudan’s peace process depends fundamentally on commitment of political parties and signatories of the agreement

By Aguok Chok

 “You cannot fight forever. After fighting, you will sit down together (and) talk. So why don’t you avoid this interlude of talking that has been interrupted by fighting and dialogue? The most important thing is to talk.”

This is the viewpoint of Amb. Maj. Gen. George Aggrey Owino, the interim chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), in an exclusive interview with the City Review highlighting on the ongoing challenges, progress, and responsibilities surrounding South Sudan’s peace process.

For a man of Amb. Owino’s stature, who has garnered years of military experience and diplomatic exposure, the secret to ending cycles of conflict calls for sitting on a round table, having constructive dialogue to find common ground.

Born and bred in Kenya, Amb. Owino served in several key positions within the Kenyan military and international peacekeeping missions. Over the years, he played leading roles in conflict resolution across Africa, including deployments in Liberia during the Ebola outbreak and in Somalia with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), combining strategic military thinking with a focus on humanitarian and diplomatic engagement.

For South Sudan, it was a different call, one with a personal connection. “I feel bound and not only associated, but part and parcel of South Sudan. I can trace my village to this country. My clan is called Jok, next to the Lol River. I have that personal connection.” This deep-rooted relationship has shaped his approach, emphasizing understanding of the country’s history, the struggles for self-determination, and the critical role of regional partners like Kenya.

The Role of Dialogue and Political Leadership

According to Amb. Owino the success of South Sudan’s peace process depends fundamentally on the political parties and signatories of the agreement. “The parties are the key drivers of the whole peace process and the success of the peace process. Without their commitment, lasting peace cannot be achieved,” he says.

“While external partners play a supportive role, South Sudanese leaders carry the ultimate responsibility for guiding the country toward stability,” he adds.

Highlighting the consequences of failing to dialogue, Amb. Owino says people disagree and go to war, they dog terrible things to each other. Conflict leaves scars and memories. However, the first step in this circle is helping people forgive each other. Once people have accepted what happened and have forgiven each other, it still takes time.

This healing process then moves into building trust. “We forgive each other, we heal, and then I trust you that you cannot do that to me again.” Dialogue, he noted, is key to restoring trust and understanding among conflicting parties.

Faith organizations also play a critical role in reconciliation, Amb. Owino said. “The best placed for healing are the faith organizations, the Christians and the Muslims. And we are engaging them, and there’s a number of programmes that we’re working on based on this peace circle idea,” he explained.

Managing Security with Reduced Forces

Meanwhile, the mission to enabling the country achieve stability has also been thawed with challenges. Reflecting on latest move by the United Nations to reduce forces and funding, Amb Owino highlighted the impact.

“Now, if you have 100, you only now have 80. So you, as a force commander, have to review your deployment, look at the vulnerabilities, and see how best you can use the 80% that you have, and still achieve the mission that you have,” he said. He emphasizes on alternative strategies, such as using enablers, redeploying assets, and increasing patrolling to maintain security coverage effectively.

He drew lessons from AMISOM in Somalia, where troop numbers were reduced due to funding shortages. “By the time I was leaving, it was about 21,000, and they were still saying, cut, because the funders did not have the money… You still have to achieve your mission. It’s difficult, but that is the reality,” he said. He noted that critical operations, including humanitarian support and monitoring, rely heavily on UN cooperation. “If that information is not coming to us (peace bodies), then we are also operating blind,” he added.

Amb. Owino warned that reductions in personnel and resources directly affect humanitarian support, including access to food, medicine, and safety for vulnerable populations. “The UN and UNMISS are very keen on humanitarian issues, supporting humanitarian issues. We have a population that can’t get food, can’t get medicine, can’t move. That affects everything because the (2018 peace) agreement talks about that, that should be happening,” he said.

Key Pillars of the Peace Process

Amb. Owino stressed the need to focus on three critical pillars of the peace process: elections, constitution-making, and unification of forces. “You cannot have a country with a force that has five commanders-in-chief. Commander-in-chief is not just a name. It’s very serious business,” he said. A well-trained and unified army is essential for stability and protection of civilians.

Regarding the constitution, he said, “The constitution is a living thing… People will come to an agreement about what are the critical things in the constitution that must be made for us; for this election. If you get the structure of government, say, let’s deal with the structure of government. At what levels, what type of elections do you want? Do you want a presidential election first, then the governor? So they can agree now.”

Amb. Owino emphasized that while the timeline is tight, prioritizing critical elements ensures that elections can proceed, after which the constitution-making process can continue. “Even with the extension, it is the parties who sat down and said we are not ready. The parliamentary process approved it. So the parties have to figure out and see, OK, here we are. As RJMEC, the best thing they can give us is to get that process moving,” he said.

Political, Judicial, and International Challenges

The RJMEC chairperson acknowledged the challenges posed by trials of key leaders, which could impact the peace process. “If the hybrid court was up and running, there would have been no judicial process locally. The risk is inherent when a signatory’s trial is ongoing, and it interferes with the implementation of the agreement,” he said. At the same time, he emphasized that international support and diplomacy remain active. “The engagements that the international community has, the guarantors have, the partners have, the regional guarantors and the African Union have with the leadership, it’s continuous,” he said.

He also addressed funding risks, noting that “UN funding for peacekeeping operations… is based on contributions of member countries. The United States was contributing almost 75% of the budget  Now, after the reductions, it’s about 25%, which has also cut down on the number of personnel.

Despite these constraints, forces must continue to protect civilians and support humanitarian operations, he explained.

Lessons from Experience

Drawing on his extensive career, Amb. Owino shared lessons from his deployments across Africa. He highlighted that peacekeeping requires flexibility, rapid decision-making, and the ability to adapt to unexpected crises. Using the Ebola outbreak in Liberia as an example, he said, “Nobody in training had taught you how to deal with Ebola. You are the first commander on the ground and must start from scratch on how to manage the situation, because you cannot be pulled out.”

He also reflected on his tenure in Somalia with AMISOM, emphasizing the necessity of adjusting deployments and managing scarce resources while still fulfilling the mission. “You have to review your deployment, look at vulnerabilities, and see how best you can use the forces you have. This is the reality of peacekeeping,” he said.

Conclusion: Responsibility and the Road Ahead

Amb. Owino concluded with a direct message for South Sudanese leaders and citizens. “The agreement is the only viable tool that we see that can get South Sudan back to a peaceful path. History will judge leaders harshly if they create suffering instead of moving this process forward. Whether you like it or not, South Sudan must have peace at some stage. The political leaders will come and go, but the country will remain,” he said.

He emphasized that dialogue, commitment, and responsible leadership are central to achieving lasting peace. “Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue… That is what I am putting on the shoulders of political leaders. The most important thing is to talk,” Amb. Owino said, underlining that sustained communication, adaptation, and cooperation are vital for South Sudan’s stability and progress.

Utilities

 “We forgive each other, we heal, and then I trust you that you cannot do that to me again. Dialogue is key to restoring trust and understanding among conflicting parties,” Amb. Maj. Gen. George Aggrey Owino, RJMEC Interim Chair.s