A delegation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) committee is in South Sudan to follow up on the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement.
The revitalized peace agreement led to the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity, which was formed in February 2020.
South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar met the delegation in Juba on Tuesday to discuss the implementation of the peace agreement, the United Nations arms embargo imposed in 2018 and preparations for the 2024 elections.
Michel Xavier Biang, head of the The UNSC committee, said: “Of course, one of the points discussed in our exchange was the questions of the arms embargo imposed on South Sudan. This step is among many other meetings we will have with different authorities in South Sudan.”
The head of the delegation announced that they will also meet civil society representatives and the UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). “Before we conclude our five-day visit, we are planning to go to Malakal, where we will conduct meetings with the state authorities and civil society,” Xavier said.
Background
The visit of the UN Security Council committee comes four months after the UN Security Council extended the arms embargo and sanctions imposed on individuals in South Sudan to “avoid a relapse into conflict.”
Resolution 2683, which was adopted with 10 votes in favour and five abstentions, also decided to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts, which assists the work of the South Sudan Sanctions Committee, until July 1, 2024.
It requested the UN secretary-general, in close consultation with the UN Mission in South Sudan and the Panel of Experts, to conduct, no later than April 15, 2024, an assessment of progress achieved on the key benchmarks set out in Resolution 2577 adopted in 2021.
Through Resolution 2577 (2021), the Security Council expressed its readiness to review arms embargo measures, further to an assessment by the Secretary-General of progress made towards five benchmarks.
These relate to the completion of the Strategic Defence and Security Review process contained in the 2028 peace agreement; formation of the Necessary Unified Forces; progress in establishing and implementing the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process; progress in the proper management of existing arms and ammunition stockpiles; and implementation of the Joint Action Plan for the Armed Forces on addressing conflict-related sexual violence.