Gituai appeals for funds for ceasefire monitoring bodies

Gituai appeals for funds for ceasefire monitoring bodies

Lack of funds is now threatens the gains made in implementing the Revitalised Peace Agreement after the United States withdrew its support, said the Interim Chairperson of RJMEC, Maj Gen Charles Gituai.

Gituai on Monday called on the US and other international partners to continue funding the revitalised peace agreement to steady the ship and see the process of transition through. 

He said that without funding, the operations of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism (RJMEC) and the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) would be paralysed, hence exposing the peace deal to a violation. 

“The US government withdrew its support for RJMEC and CTSAMVM, key IGAD mandated oversight and verification institutions, whose functions and effectiveness, are indispensable to the implementation of the Peace Agreement,” said Gituai as he regretted the decision of the US government.

“Without an effective oversight mechanism, we risk the collapse of the agreement and reversing the gains made under the agreement thus far. I recommend the council appeals to the US Government to reconsider its decision to halt support to RJMEC and CTSAMVM.” 

He urged African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to render support to Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), and convene what he called the “Pledging Conference for South Sudan” according to Chapter 3 of R-ARCSS.

“I recommend for the Council to appeal to all partners and friends of South Sudan to support RJMEC and CTSAMVM and the full implementation of the R-ARCSS, and to the AU Commission to consider supporting RJMEC and CTSAMVM to ensure the effective discharge of their mandate,” he added.

Concerted efforts 

In his remarks on the Eleventh Anniversary of South Sudan’s Independence on Saturday, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, also urged the government of the United States to revoke its decision and redirect its support to RJMEC and CTSAMVM.

Kiir noted that the presidency was ready to decide the date for the graduation of the Necessary Unified Forces and to expedite their redeployment to make a breakthrough in the implementation of Chapter Two of Revitalised Peace Agreement, which is about a security arrangement.

The scheduled graduation of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) set by the Joint Defense Board was to be on June 27,29 or 30, the this date has already passed due to inadequate preparation for this remarkable event, as well as logistical gap.

The president also directed Members of Parliament (MPs) to desist from politics and concentrate on deliberations on bills critical to the implementation of the peace agreement for them to be passed before the end of the transitional period in February 2023.

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