The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), the peace monitoring body established under the terms of the 2015 peace deal, welcomed the successful conduct of the peace celebrations in Juba on Wednesday.

In a statement released to the media on Thursday, JMEC said the presence of key opposition leaders at the celebrations is ‘a public signal that the much-needed building of trust and inclusive implementation of the agreement is underway.’

JMEC Deputy Chairperson Ambassador Lt. Gen. Augostino Njoroge said, “The signing of the agreement in September was not forced upon the parties – it was an act of compromise and leadership. We at JMEC are hopeful for the future, though we do not underestimate the task ahead. We will do everything we can to support the process, and expect all other stakeholders to do the same.”

Njoroge added that President Salva Kiir’s announcement to release more political detainees, allow free movement and open humanitarian access routes show that the parties are willing to compromise this time around. He called on the parties involved to implement the deal in letter and spirit.

On Wednesday regional leaders, South Sudanese opposition leaders who signed the peace deal with President Kiir and thousands of South Sudanese celebrated the signing of the peace deal aimed at ending the five-year civil war.