The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) is considering a fresh roadmap to speed up the pace of the peace implementation process as South Sudan enters 2021 without a comprehensive agreement.

Since the signing of the agreement in February this year, RJMEC says parties have failed to comply with multiple directives urging them to scale up the implementation process despite several outstanding issues.

“I will therefore set out my expectations for the coming year 2021, which I hope all parties and partners in the Peace Agreement will approach with renewed vigour and determination,” said Charles Tai Gituai, R-JMEC Interim Chairperson.

“The achievement of the outstanding tasks will set the foundation for trust building, and confidence, which will contribute to sustainable peace in South Sudan,” he added.

Gituai was speaking at a political leaders’ workshop on permanent constitution making process in South Sudan Tuesday last week.

Lack of reconstituted parliament remained one of the sticky issues obstructing the progress of the peace deal and complicating the presentation of annual budget. 

 According to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan Article 1.18.1.4, the National Constitutional Amendment Committee is mandated to receive a list of nominees to the reconstituted TNLA.

Gituai orders all parties that have not yet submitted their list of nominees to the National Constitutional Amendment Committee should do so without any further delay.

“Establishing and staffing the entire structures of the RTGoNU and making them operational will enhance the normal functioning of government at all levels.

 “I would also like to urge the parties to observe the 35% level of women’s representation throughout the establishment and reconstitution of government structures,” he said.

The agreement acknowledges the 35% affirmative action for women and in particular, their nomination to the council of ministries. Incumbent TGoNU shall nominate no fewer than six women, SPLM/IO shall nominate no fewer than three women, and SSOA shall nominate no less than one woman.

Gituai also emphasized on the issue of transitional security arrangements, which he says was a critical task, which were carried forward from the pre-transitional period that still remains incomplete.

“It is important to fast-track and complete the training, graduation and redeployment of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) under Phase I and also to expedite Phase II.

“I expect that the recent senior military leadership training conducted in Nairobi, by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research in collaboration with RJMEC, will help the parties to address the issue of unified command,” he highlighted.

He added that it was equally important to the security arrangements as is the implementation of a well-coordinated Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process.

“In all cases, the RTGoNU must allocate the necessary funding and resources. It is also imperative that the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) Board complete a review of the security policy framework and develop a white paper on defense and security. These will underpin reforms in the security sector in the country,” Gituai said.