Troika urges for urgent probe on SPLA-IO claims
The Troika, comprising the United States, the United Kingdom and Norway, has called on the parties to the agreement to observe them and push for the return of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) into ceasefire bodies.
They appealed to the parties to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), to recommit to the agreement through its implementation in letter and spirit.
“We call on the government of South Sudan to exercise leadership and oversight of the nation’s security forces to maintain discipline and compliance with the peace agreement,” the statement read.
“The Troika regrets the decision by SPLM/A-IO to temporarily withdraw its participation from CTSAMVM and R-JMEC and urges all parties to recommit to the R-ARCSS and re-engage in good faith in the agreement mechanisms.”
They called for the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC), to probe the alleged attacks to establish whether they amount to a breach of R-ARCSS, by identifying the parties to violence.
“The Troika requests the Permanent Ceasefire and Peace Agreement Monitoring and Verification Mechanisms, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) to provide urgently an assessment of whether these attacks constitute a breach of R-ARCSS and identify those that bear primary responsibility.”
Troika warned that revenge attacks could send the country spiralling into greater violence, adding that continued attacks might threaten to undermine R-ARCSS.
The national Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Dr Martin Elia Lomuro, told the City Review that he was not aware of the withdrawal of the SPLM/A-IO from attending CTSAMVM and R-JMEC meetings, due to the alleged attacks on their cantonment sites.
He said that he would prove it when the SPLM/A-IO did not attend the R-JMEC meeting, which he said was scheduled to take place today.
“I did not know that the SPLM/A-IO withdrew from those organs. I don’t know. R-JMEC has a meeting tomorrow, I will see tomorrow if they are coming or not. I have no idea, I will wait for tomorrow,” Dr Elia said.
Withdrawal
On Tuesday, the SPLM/A-IO released a statement bearing the signature of the First Vice President and the Chairman of the SPLM/A-IO, Dr Riek Machar Teny, saying that they would not be participating in the security mechanisms meetings due to alleged attacks in their cantonment sites.
“Deeply concerned by the ongoing attacks on SPLM/SPLA (IO) cantonments and training centres in Kaljak and Mirmir in Unity State and in Jekou in Upper Nile State, the PB (Political Bureau) approved the suspension of participation of SPLM/SPLA (IO) in the security mechanisms’ meetings pending the resolution of the issues raised at the political level,” the letter read.
The statement further claimed that the security mechanisms components were not functioning in the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.
“The SPLM/SPLA (IO) Political Bureau (PB) met on Tuesday 22, March 2022 to discuss reports from SPLM/SPLA (IO) security mechanisms components namely JDB, JTSC, JMCC, SDSR Board, CTSAMVM, SSM, as well as the National Transitional Committee (NTC) and Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC). The PB evaluated and noted the dysfunctionality of these mechanisms in the implementation of the Agreement (R-ARCSS),” the letter read.
The Spokesperson of South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), Maj Gen Lul Ruai Koang in response to the accusations of violations by SSPDF said that they were not allowed to comment on violations by the Joint Defense Board (JDB).
“Regarding the attack, I was in fact reading a statement released by the spokesperson of the SPLA-IO when your call came. I am not going to respond because we are given very clear orders by the chairpersons of JDB instructing us not to be going to the media whenever a violation is registered on the ground,” Maj Gen Lul said.
He noted that any violation should always be reported to JDB, and then after the party which has violated the agreement is identified, a joint statement will be written by the other parties to the agreement against the party which has violated the agreement.
“They told us what should be happening whenever there is a violation registered, first the leadership would be sitting, find out who is in a violation, and then we the spokespersons will come out to issue a joint statement accusing the party that is in violation of the agreement.”
