The African Union Mission in South Sudan (AUMISS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) have expressed grave concern over the ongoing tensions in Upper Nile State.
In a joint press release issued on Thursday, the agencies stated that they are equally concerned about clashes involving forces of the signatory parties to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el-Ghazal states.
Specifically, AUMISS, IGAD, UNMISS, and RJMEC called upon the parties to urgently work together through the R-ARCSS framework to de-escalate the situation in Upper Nile State.
According to the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), the security situation in Upper Nile State, in particular, has significantly deteriorated in recent weeks. This deterioration has been exacerbated by the ongoing rotation of forces in Nasir, raising concerns about the potential for widespread violence.
“AUMISS, IGAD, UNMISS, and RJMEC, therefore, call upon the leadership of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) and the Joint Defense Board (JDB) to work collegially and swiftly to address the persistent security concerns in all three states. We caution that if left unaddressed, these incidents could potentially undermine the Permanent Ceasefire, which remains the cornerstone of the Revitalized Peace Agreement,” the press release stated.
The joint statement emphasized the need to advance the full unification and urgent deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces. This step is critical to bolstering public faith and trust in the RTGoNU’s commitment to lasting peace and stability in South Sudan, especially at this pivotal time as the country enters the fourth extension of its ongoing Transitional Period.