Civil society body raises concern over slow peace implementation
The South Sudan Civil Society Alliance (SSCSA) has raised concerns over what it terms a lack of political will by the parties to implement the peace agreement.
In a statement sent to the media on Friday, the SSCSA, chaired by Akuoch Ajang Nyanhom, expressed worries over the implementation of the revitalised peace agreement.
The statement highlights that one of the challenges affecting the full implementation of the agreement is the lack of political will to implement it in letter and spirit. It also states that economic hardship is affecting the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan.
“The major parties to the peace agreement have significantly delayed the implementation of the permanent ceasefire. There are still some clashes, evidenced by the confrontation between SPLM/A-IO forces in some parts of the Upper Nile region.
“However, the people of South Sudan enjoy relative peace despite violations of a permanent ceasefire in some parts of the country by other parties including non-signatories to the 2018 Peace Agreement,” the statement said.
The activists urged the parties to the peace accord to respect the permanent ceasefire and embrace peaceful dialogue to resolve outstanding issues.
The inter-communal violence among communities is another stumbling block to the accord.
Earlier this month, a report by UNOCHA stated that the humanitarian needs in the country continue to grow due to multiple shocks, including recurring violence, ongoing impacts of the third consecutive year of flooding, public health challenges, and direct and indirect effects of COVID-19.
The report highlights that fighting between armed factions in Lainya County, Central Equatoria, displaced approximately 13,300 people. In Bor South County, Jonglei, sub-national violence displaced over 7,000 people, with at least 32 civilian casualties.
Due to lack of food and essential services, over 3,500 people, primarily women, children and older persons were displaced from Kapoeta East to Kapoeta North County, Eastern Equatoria. Some 3,000 people from Tombura County were displaced to Ezo County in Western Equatoria.
An armed attack in Aweil East County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, displaced 2,600 households, approximately 15,600 people. In Pibor County, Greater Pibor Administrative Area, inter-communal violence displaced some 600 people.
Cattle migration caused tensions between cattle keepers and agrarian host communities in parts of Central and Eastern Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal.
The activist said another challenge affecting the implementation of the agreement is the lack of conducive political space, freedom of expression, sensitisation, returnees and refugees from neighbouring countries and IDPs in PoCs across the country.
The alliance calls for the establishment of the Hybrid Court, reconstituted special fund; commission for repatriation authority fund and persuades African Union, IGAD, TROIKA and partners to fund the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement.
