Former Detainees Senior Party Representative to the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) Maj Gen Bior Leek on Wednesday questioned the absence of a clear timeline for the implementation of the extended transitional period.
Parties signatories to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in September extended the transitional period for the second time for another two years, and postponed the election previously scheduled for this month.
Speaking during the CTSAMVM Technical Committee meeting at the Beijing Hotel in Juba, Leek said the government had not come out with a clear timeline since the extension was announced.
“I am confused, the transitional government has been extended but there is no clarity, especially with the timeframe, the plan, and how we are going to continue. I am confused about whether we continue with the implementation of the ARCSS or we wait for Tumaini,” Leek said
He also raised concerns that the chairperson for the High-Level Standing Committee for the Implementation of the Agreement had travelled to Nairobi for the Tumaini talks, questioning whether the 2018 Peace Agreement would be abandoned in favor of the Nairobi Initiative.
“I urge the high-level committee to brief the public about the timeline for the extensions. I urge the government to fund the security mechanism to carry out phase two and deploy the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) because we witnessed the shooting in Juba,” he stressed.
The South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) Party Representative to CTSAMVM, Brig Gen Samuel Chan, called for the immediate deployment of the NUF to address the security challenges.
“There is a need for complete deployment of the unified forces which is a key benchmark in addressing the security challenges. The primary objective of any nation is the achievement of national security, so there is a need to have a strategic program to achieve this obligation of the R-TGoNU. The deployment of the NUF will boost our economic growth and diplomatic interest in the region. However, it is worth noting that the ceasefire is still held among the party’s signatories across the country,” he said
Chan also decried the activities of the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Gen Thomas Cirillo, describing the group as terrorists.
“The NAS activities in Central and Western Equatoria State amount to an act of terrorism. To the best of my knowledge, terrorists are those who use violence, intimidation or threats to public safety to achieve political and ideological objective,” he said.
“The act of abducting civilians, especially on the Yei-Lasu Road and some parts of Western Equatoria State and bombing public transport along Juba-Mundri Road amount to terrorism. I am urging NAS to recommit themselves to the cessation of hostilities agreement signed in 2017 and the 2020 Rome Declarations. NAS should utilize the opportunity to participate in the Tumaini Initiative,” he added.
NAS Spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.