Festus Mogae, chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), a body tasked with overseeing implementation of the signed peace deal in South Sudan, says last August’s fragile peace accord is still alive since several opposition groups are still serving in the unity government in Juba.
“What makes the agreement alive is that there are representatives of the opposition who are involved, and there are others who are currently not taking part, but they have not said they will not take part,” said Mogae.
Speaking to reporters after the JMEC plenary meeting in Juba today, Mogae stated the peace agreement is still alive because it is the only option for South Sudan, saying the oversight body will be waiting for the other opposition groups to join the peace process.
“I don’t have to mention names, but there are several groups who ought to have been at the meeting, who were not, but have not said they are boycotting the meeting,” he said.
The peace monitor promised to engage all stakeholders to join peace in South Sudan. Mogae pointed out that the current government in Juba made progress in implementation of the peace agreement. He noted that the government presented a detailed report on the progress made in peace implementation.
“What is happening is good, the SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO, are working very well, but we would hope and urge them that they should recruit more dissidents or rebels, or whatever we want to call them to make the arrangements and the efforts at nation-building more inclusive because we want peace, we want peace,” he said.
Mogae revealed that they agreed on the need for a ceasefire and expedition of the deployment of the UN-backed regional protection force in Juba.
For his part, Michael Makuei, South Sudan’s Minister of Information, said that Cabinet Affairs Minister Martin Elia presented their report on implementation of the signed peace agreement.
“The report is very clear, we have enumerated all the achievements we have made, what are the challenges and so forth, and this is where the JMEC meeting concluded that the agreement is alive,” said Makuei.
“Anybody who claims to be outside the agreement now, these are people who ought to be brought in, they ought to be brought in for inclusivity, anybody who is outside and fighting the government, is required to denounce violence, after denunciation of violence, then we will be ready to sit and talk,” he added.
Makuei pointed out that they listened to another report on the current humanitarian situation across South Sudan. He admitted that the people of South Sudan are experiencing dire humanitarian conditions, saying efforts are underway to ensure citizens live in peace and harmony.