RJMEC raises concern over threat of current political, security situation to R-ARCSS

Even as the peace monitor warned of the challenges posed to the gains made under the six years of the 2018 peace agreement.

By Emmanuel Mandella

The current deteriorating political and security situation in the country does not auger well with the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement, R-ARCSS.

This was the main take-away point from a meeting between the Chief of Staff of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), Amb. Berhanu Kebede and the Chairperson of the National Transitional Committee (NTC) and Senior Presidential Advisor, Hon. Kuol Manyang Juuk on Wednesday.

Amb. Kebede said there is need to de-escalate tensions, create an enabling environment for inclusive political dialogue, and ensure legitimacy in the reinvigoration of the various Agreement implementation mechanisms.

The meeting comes on the back of a report published by the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), which warned of immense threats to the gains made under the six years of the 2018 peace agreement.

RJMEC, in its latest quarterly report covering January to March 2025, painted a sorry picture of the implementation of the peace deal, citing repeated violations by parties, including an escalation of armed conflict, political arrests, legislative stagnation and unilateral decisions during the period of review.

“During the quarter, implementation of the Agreement ground to a halt, as the Parties engaged in repeated violations and the political and security environment markedly worsened. In scenes not seen since the signing of the R-ARCSS over six years ago, armed conflict and violence erupted across the country, several high-ranking opposition members and Parliamentarians were detained and imprisoned,” noted the peace monitor.

While the Revitalized Peace Agreement is premised on the principles of collegiality, consultation and consensus, RJMEC noted a deviation from the responsibility sharing arrangements.

“Some replacements, however, involved a party to the R-ARCSS replacing its own appointees, whereas in others, the replacements were drawn from different parties, in some cases, female office bearers were replaced by male appointees signaling a deviation from the responsibility sharing arrangements including the 35% minimum threshold for women agreed among the parties, pursuant to the R-ARCSS.”

According to RJMEC, the period under review saw widespread clashes across several regions, with violations of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) becoming more frequent and intense.

Intriguingly, both military factions, the South Sudan Peoples Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army – In Opposition (SPLA -IO), were reportedly involved in the security violations, further straining the country’s stability and peace. Meanwhile, the unification of forces, an exercise aimed at bringing former warring parties under one command, has continued to stagger.

The report laments the dormancy of the Transitional National Legislature since December 2024 which has stalled essential bills including the hotly debated National Security Services Bill.

The political gridlock has had far-reaching implications beyond governance. Humanitarian operations have been severely disrupted, leaving millions of South Sudanese especially women and children struggling amid deepening food insecurity and mass displacements caused by renewed intercommunal violence.

In a bid to restore calm and ensure progressive implementation of the Agreement, RJMEC suggests that the signatories cease all forms of hostilities and restore adherence to the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements; allow CTSAMVM the opportunity to investigate, verify and report findings on alleged violations of the provisions of the permanent ceasefire and; urgently engage in continuous dialogue at all levels, de-escalate tensions, and resolve issues in a collegial manner, embracing understanding and compromise.

The peace monitor also advises the parties to the Agreement among other relevant stakeholders to participate fully in the various Agreement institutions and mechanisms, which are geared towards safeguarding the R-ARCSS; desist from actions that may escalate tensions by demonstrating leadership in guiding South Sudan towards the path of stability and prosperity; and adhere to the protocols of the unification of forces, dialogue on a viable way forward and embrace preparatory arrangements underway in this regard.

To reinvigorate the implementation of the peace agreement, government said it would put in place six strategic action points, which include: Leadership Presentation, reconstitution of the Agreement Structure, electoral budget, revised electoral timelines, Security Sector Ref