South Sudan

[…] During the reporting period, the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement

 

The body monitoring South Sudan’s peace process (RJMEC) has urged the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) to redouble its efforts and fully implement the roadmap in letter and spirit.

As fighting continues in South Sudan, a new UN report released on Tuesday documents 173 civilian deaths over a four-month period along with widespread human rights violations committed without repercussion.

South Sudan’s unity government has begun unifying rival armed groups in a programme meant to create a professional military for the country. On Tuesday, Juba witnessed the first unification exercise after more than 20,000 armed fighters graduated from months-long training to transition to professional soldiers.

A rebel movement led by South Sudan’s former army chief of staff, Gen Paul Malong Awan has threatened full military operations after the alleged capture of one of their top field commanders. … SSUF is one of the holdout groups participating in the Rome peace process.

A group of “like minded” South Sudanese stakeholder have “categorically” reject the extension by the parties of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) period.

The Troika and European Union (EU) member states have welcomed South Sudan’s leaders’ commitment to the full implementation of the September 2018 revitalised peace agreement. Last week, five South Sudanese political parties to the September 2018 peace deal signed a roadmap extending the current transitional period for two additional years, citing failure to complete critical benchmarks as agreed.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has expressed concerns that cases of conflict-related sexual violence are emerging, despite a decline in the number of civilians affected by violence across the country.

[…] The September 2018 revitalized peace agreement requires the parties to train and graduate a unified force of 83,000 personnel to take charge of security during the transitional period until 2023 when elections are held. The unification of the army has been delayed amid missed deadlines.

South Sudan opposition parties and government have agreed to fully implement the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) and ensure all armed forces and its affiliates under its command and control at all times observe the CoHA, particularly provisions of prohibited acts.