The body monitoring South Sudan’s peace deal has expressed regrets on delays in the implementation of the security arrangements, saying the unification of military forces remains stalled.
The unification of government and opposition forces is a crucial part of the necessary security arrangements under the 2018 revitalized peace deal.
The graduation of the much-awaited unified forces has been delayed due to what the unity government terms as “logistical and financial constraints.”
At the beginning of the month, the Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, Angelina Teny, said the unified forces would be graduated before May 31, 2021.
However, several commanders and soldiers who have been in training and cantonment sites for two years told Radio Tamazuj last week they were yet to get official communication regarding the matter.
“No graduation and redeployment for Phase One of the Necessary Unified Forces have taken place. Cantonment sites and training centres continue to be abandoned due to a chronic lack of food, medicines, shelter facilities and hygiene items for women,” Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, the Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), said in a meeting held in Juba on Thursday.
“The conditions in both cantonment sites and training centres continue to deteriorate and can only get worse with the onset of the rainy season,” he added.
Gituai urged the unity government to adequately fund the transitional security arrangements, to expedite and complete the unification of armed forces, and ensure well-coordinated DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration) in conjunction with the required government ministries and agencies.
Separately, Gituai described the killing of an aid worker on 12 May 2021 as “very saddening”, adding that the safety and security of humanitarian workers continue to be threatened by ongoing violence.
“Concerns on road security, notably in Lakes, Jonglei, and the Equatorias, continue to impede the delivery of aid to those who most need it,” the Interim Chairperson said, urging the government to provide “a secure and enabling environment for humanitarian workers, IDPs and returnees.”
Additionally, the Interim Chairperson commended the reconstitution of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), noting that this creates “the momentum which can accelerate progress in the implementation of the revitalized Peace Agreement.”
“This is a welcome development, as it has long been seen as a vital step in implementing Chapter 1 of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. There now remains the reconstitution of the Council of States, and the state legislative assemblies, and the restructuring and reconstitution of institutions and commissions at the national level,” he said.
Last week, Minister of Information Michael Makuei said the reconstitution of the Council of States will happen soon, as most parties already submitted names of their nominees to the presidency.
Also, the parties to the peace agreement are yet to reconstitute state legislative assemblies.