RJMEC, in its latest quarterly briefing, renews calls for unification of forces, laments the sluggish approach and reveals the challenges of fully monitoring violations by forces

By Opio Jackson

Ceasefire monitoring body, CTSAMVM cannot fully investigate and report on any clashes between the SSPDF and NAS of Thomas Cirillo, said Maj Gen Charles Tai Gituai, the iterim chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC).

Maj. Gen. Gituai made the remarks yesterday during his briefing to the National Parliament.

On a positive note, he said the Permanent Ceasefire has continued to hold, with no major clashes among the forces of the Parties to the R-ARCSS.

“However, some incidents of intercommunal violence were reported in Unity, Jonglei, and Lakes States, compounded by some security-related incidents in Juba,” Gen. Gituai said

“In addition, sporadic clashes between the SSPDF and the National Salvation Front (NAS) of Lt Gen. Thomas Cirillo were reported in some parts of Central Equatoria State. CTSAMVM could not fully investigate and report on the SSPDF and NAS clashes because NAS does not have representation in CTSAMVM.”

The RJMEC highlighted the nonexistence of communication between CTSAMVM and NAS, despite the NAS allied to Gen. Cirillo having signed the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of December 2017.

In his report to the parliament, Gituai said CTSAMVM in its quarterly report had submitted two violation reports, including one on the clash between the Unity State Governor’s Convoy Protection Team and SPLM/A-IO Forces in Jamus/Barkuor, Unity State. He further said that RJMEC had submitted the reports to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the SSPDF and the Chairperson of the Joint Defence Board (JDB) and urged implementation of the CTSAMVM recommendations on these two incidents.

In his remarks on the Transitional Security Arrangements, Gituai noted that there has been very little progress on the unification of forces since the last report.

“The political process for the unification of the second command echelon has not yet been concluded.”

However, in July 2024, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) appointed 2,995 non-commissioned officers (NCOs) to the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) police component of the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS).

There have been concerns by the citizens, especially from the political and civil society activists having an inclusive Tumaini to end the perennial insecurity in the country.

Mr. Peter Lo mude, Head of Political Affairs of the National Democratic Alliance (NDM) said inclusivity in the Tumaini Inititiative would restore comprehensive peace.

“The current people who are participating don’t represent the whole group of the hold-out group because the group that is participating is partial to the hold-out. Part of the hold-out group is not currently participating in the Tumaini.”

Lo mude continued that these groups have been neglected and are contributing to the insecurity currently in the country.

According to him, the Tumaini should be made inclusive so that the government does not negotiate with another group in Nairobi and then later create a negation with another group.

“Let it be made once and for all so that you sign a comprehensive peace and people go for the elections.”

“The political process for the unification of the second command echelon has not yet been concluded,” Maj Gen Charles Tai Gituai, the iterim chairperson of the RJMEC.