SPLA-IO cuts ties with ceasefire bodies
The Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) members of the security mechanisms on Tuesday suspended their participation in meetings of the RJMEC and the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement, Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) with immediate effect.
The SPLA-IO representatives cited continued violations by their peace partners as their main reason for the pull-out. They allege continuous unprovoked attacks on its areas, cantonment sites, and the unified forces training centres.
They also accused SPLM-IG members of failing to attend security mechanism meetings where reports of violations and other critical issues pertaining to the security arrangement’s implementation are discussed.
They alleged that there was facilitation and encouragement of defections, resulting in violent clashes and the displacement of civilian populations in the affected areas.
“In light of the above-stated facts, Hon. Interim Chair, the SPLA-IO members of the Security Mechanisms have been presenting violations of the cessation of hostility agreement (COHA) made by our peace partners (IG, NSS, and SSPDF) in various CTSAMVM and RJMEC (forums) plenary meetings since the beginning of the implementation of the transitional security agreement (TSA).
“We believe that RJMEC is mandated by the agreement (R-ARCSS) to address,” the officers stated in the letter addressed to RJMEC Interim Chairperson dated March 22, 2022, and signed by Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam (pictured above), Acting Chief of General Staff, and Co-Chair of the Joint Defence Board (JDB).
According to the agreement, RJMEC, a commission mandated to report progress on the implementation of the revitalised peace agreement including violations to IGAD, receives such reports and verification from CTSAMVM at both technical and board meetings on a monthly basis. But none of the issues raised are acted upon, SPLA-IO claimed.
“We, therefore, see no point in participating in non-productive meetings where issues are raised but not resolved. As such, we are stopping our participation in the RJMEC meetings from today, March 22, 2022, until the above issues are addressed.”
“We see no logical reason to participate in meetings when our areas are under attack by our peace partners without action from those mandated to hold them accountable for such violations,” they further stated.
When The City Review contacted the spokesperson of SSPDF Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, for comment on the claims of the SPLA-IO, on Monday, the army boss said military spokespersons of the parties to the agreement are not permitted to comment on the issue unless directed by the Joint Defence Board (JDB) to avoid accusations.
However, in June 2018, the parties to the revitalised peace accord signed a permanent ceasefire agreement in the Khartoum Declaration, which went into effect in July 2018 and halted hostilities across the country.
The parties reiterated all their commitments under the Cessation of Hostilities (CoHA) signed on December 21, 2017, by observing the permanent ceasefire and transitional security mechanism under Chapter of the revitalised peace deal.
Should be addressed
Speaking to The City Review yesterday, a civil society activist warned of the collapse of the ceasefire transitional security arrangement after the pulling out of the main armed party from the peace monitoring mechanisms.
Executive Director Edmund of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) Edmund Yakani has called on the presidency to hold an immediate meeting to resolve the matter to allow the participation of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) in the activities of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJEMC).
“This development is threatening. This development is putting the life of the agreement under jeopardy. So I call upon the members of the presidency to meet and call the field commanders who might have engaged in this crisis that led to SPLA-IO to withdraw and be held accountable, “said Yakani.
