The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) is calling on the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) to expedite the process of adoption of a roadmap for the implementation of the peace agreement. 

The RJMEC also urges the RTGoNU to urgently set the date for the graduation and redeployment of the unified forces including the commencement of phase 2 and the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process.

The commission’s Interim Chairperson, Amb. Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai made the remarks on Thursday during the RJMEC 23rd meeting on the status of peace implementation in South Sudan.

"I would like to make the following recommendations; urge the RTGoNU to fast-track the process of the consideration and adoption of the agreed final roadmap; urge the RTGoNU to urgently set the date for the graduation and deployment of the unified forces and the commencement of phase 2 and the DDR process; urge the RTGoNU to seriously address the increasing incidences of community - based violence across the country; urge the RTGoNU to urgently institute mechanisms for fast-tracking procedures for import and customs clearance of relief materials and visa renewal processes for humanitarian workers to improve access to those in dire need," he said. 

Gituai says despite the April 2022 agreement on a unified command structure, progress towards the graduation of the unified forces has stalled.

General Gituai also appealed to all partners and friends of South Sudan to continue supporting RJMEC and CTSAMVM to enable full implementation of the R-ARCSS.

"I appeal to all partners and friends of South Sudan to continue supporting RJMEC and CTSAMVM and the full implementation of the R-ARCS; and I appeal to the RTGoNu to allocate adequate funding for the implementation of the agreement including to the nationals within the mechanisms, service delivery, livelihoods and constitution-making process in the 2022/2023 budget," he added.

About the Rome peace talks, Ambassador Gituai says some progress has been made in bringing the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA) group of Gen. Paul Malong and Pagan Amum into the CTSAMVM.

"Regarding the Sant 'Egidio-led mediation, some progress has been made. CTSAMVM recently completed an induction training in Rome, Italy, of national monitors representing the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA) of Gen. Paul Malong and Pagan Amum,' he said. "They are now expected to be integrated within the CTSAMVM Monitoring and Verification Teams by mid-August. I would like to encourage the other group of SSOMA allied to the National Salvation Front (NAS) of Gen. Thomas Cirillo to join the dialogue in good faith towards finding a lasting solution."

In his statement to journalists at the same event in Juba on Thursday, the Cabinet Affairs Minister, Dr. Martin Elia Lomoro said the adoption of the roadmap for peace implementation is under discussion at the presidency and is expected to be agreed on today by the parties to the 2018 peace agreement.

"The roadmap is based on our own analysis of chapters 1, 2, 5, and 6 and I am glad to say this afternoon that this afternoon, the presidency will have an extended meeting which will include representatives of the parties to the agreement to now listen to the roadmap and make their contributions as necessary. So indeed the roadmap we (parties) committed ourselves to develop will be made today and hopefully owned by the parties to the agreement," he assured.

For his part, Stephen Par Kuol, the Minister of Peace Building who is also the secretary of the National Transitional Committee (NTC) urged the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to release the funds for the graduation of the unified forces.

"The NTC urges the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to release the funds earmarked for graduation, deployment, DDR, screening of forces, and phase 2. We ask the friends of South Sudan, the R-ARCSS guarantors, African Union, and the international community to continue supporting the NTC on the implementation of the transitional period, security arrangement, remaining critical tasks on the activities," Minister Kuol stated.

Last week, on July 15th, the RTGoNU presented a draft roadmap to President Salva Kiir, and it is being discussed today at the presidency for adoption.