.       CTSAMVM Chairperson, Maj. Gen. Teshome Anagawe Ayana

·       Honourable Ministers

·       Excellencies, Heads of Mission

·       Distinguished Generals

·       CTSAMVM Board Members

·       Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Morning!

1.   Let me start by commending the CTSAMVM Chairperson for convening this extraordinary meeting. This is the first CTSAMVM Board meeting since March this year. The political and security crises the Peace Agreement has experienced since the Nasir incident, also in March this year, have been very disruptive to its work, and indeed the Peace Agreement overall. I would like to thank the CTSAMVM leadership for keeping RJMEC and IGAD well-informed about the operational and administrative challenges this very important mechanism has been facing, and continues to face. This meeting is therefore very timely, and the Board is well-positioned to provide guidance to the CTSAMVM in the delivery of its mandate. 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

2.   I feel honoured to attend this gathering and address you at this 4th CTSAMVM Extraordinary meeting. CTSAMVM was established pursuant to Article 4 of the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (ARCSS 2015) and reconstituted in 2018 pursuant to Articles 2.4.7.  and 2.4.8. of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), 2018. It is the only mechanism mandated by the R-ARCSS to monitor the Parties’ compliance with the provisions of Chapter II, specifically the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements, and duly report to the RJMEC and IGAD. 

3.   Thus, CTSAMVM is IGAD’s and RJMEC’s eyes and ears in South Sudan in as far as the Parties’ compliance with Chapter II is concerned. At a strategic level, CTSAMVM is a very important confidence-building mechanism for all the Parties to the Agreement and the people of South Sudan. It does this through its independence, impartiality in monitoring and reporting, and above all, the joint participation of all the Parties with arms at all levels of CTSAMVM structures, including the Board. However, CTSAMVM’s work is not without challenges.

4.   From RJMEC’s perspective, the challenges facing CTSAMVM include reduced mobility as a result of climatic conditions, lack of essential equipment, and the reduction in the number of Monitoring and Verification Teams (MVTs) due to financial constraints, and a backlog of reported violations pending investigation.  

5.   As one of the outcomes of this meeting, I would like to urge the CTSAMVM Board to provide guidance in meeting these challenges, so that CTSAMVM can resume investigations and produce reports awaited by the Parties and the people of South Sudan, as well as the region and the international community. I encourage all of you to share concrete ideas that will enhance CTSAMVM’s work for the benefit of us all. 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

6.   I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Parties, the regional and international partners for contributing personnel to the hardworking CTSAMVM HQ and the MVTs. It is also very important to mention the invaluable financial support provided to CTSAMVM by donors. The donor climate has changed since the establishment of CTSAMVM in 2015, and the world over is facing economic challenges. Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude to the donor community for committing financial resources not only to CTSAMVM but to RJMEC as well, despite the challenging financial situation their nations are facing. 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

7.   In conclusion, I would like to appreciate you all for your hard work as members of the CTSAMVM Board. You all have busy schedules, but you always take time to attend Board meetings.  

Thank You!

H.E. Gen Kuol Manyang Juuk, Senior Presidential Advisor and Chairperson of NTC;

H.E. Ambassador Chol Mawut, Minister of Presidential Affairs;

Hon. Dr Martin Elia Lomuro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs;

Professor Abednego Akok Kacuol, Chairperson of the NEC;

Hon. General Augustino Jadalla Wani, Governor of Central Equatoria State;

H.E. Nicholas Haysom, UNMISS SRSG;

H.E. Prof. Ambassador Joram Biswaro, SRCC and Head of the African Union Mission in South Sudan;

H.E. Michael Adler, US Ambassador;

Gathered Dignitaries;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Good afternoon!

1.   It is my pleasure and honour to say a few words at such an auspicious occasion as this one. The opening of the office of the National Elections Commission State High Elections Committee for Central Equatoria is an important milestone for which I commend the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity and the National Elections Commission.

2.   We are no doubt all aware that Article 1.2.13 of the Revitalised Peace Agreement provides for the reconstitution of “a competent and independent National Elections Commission to conduct free, fair and credible elections before the end of the Transitional Period and ensure that the outcome reflects the will of the electorate.” Accordingly, it is gratifying to know that the State High Committees have been appointed and are operational, and that necessary concrete steps, including institutional strengthening and capacity building of its personnel, among others, are being undertaken to prepare for free, fair and inclusive elections.

3.   The State High Committee is mandated to administer and supervise elections at state level. As such, a wide range of technical tasks must take place for free, fair and inclusive elections to be held, including recommending polling station locations, distribution of electoral material at state level, conducting voter registration, and undertaking electoral voter education and civic education programmes. For the state of Central Equatoria, such processes will be driven from this office under the supervision of the NEC. 

4.   However, as much as the physical space for preparing for and holding elections is needed, other types of space are also needed, chiefly political and civic space. The ongoing process of building a united, peaceful and prosperous society in South Sudan requires the will of the people to be faithfully reflected in their own governance, which is best articulated through genuine multiparty elections.

5.   To best achieve this, the protection and expansion of political and civic space is needed, thereby facilitating the inclusion of all stakeholders, particularly women and young people in the processes. One of those processes is the making of a people-led and people-owned Permanent Constitution, a requirement of the Revitalised Peace Agreement which will guide the conduct of elections.

 6.   Furthermore, the issue of security is important. Successful elections rely on a secure environment in which political parties can campaign, and a secure environment in which people can vote. Without true security and meaningful inclusion of all South Sudan’s diverse peoples, the elections will not achieve their intended results.

 7.   RJMEC welcomes the positive step of opening this office, and congratulates the National Elections Commission for this milestone. At the same time, so that elections can remain a realistic goal, RJMEC appeals to the Parties to the Agreement to cease hostilities, resume political dialogue, and return their focus to the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement, as ones determined “to compensate our people by recommitting ourselves to peace and constitutionalism and not to repeat mistakes of the past”, as the Preamble of the Agreement promises the population of South Sudan.

8.       The success of the NEC and the entire electoral process depends not only on the Commission, but on the collective will and cooperation of all political leaders, government institutions, civil society, and the people themselves. We call upon all parties to put the interests of the nation above individual or partisan considerations, to renounce violence, and to commit to peaceful and respectful competition.

9.       RJMEC therefore urges the RTGoNU to provide the necessary support, including political, legal, and financial support, to ensure that the National Elections Commission can carry out its mandate effectively and independently. In this regard, RJMEC appeals to the region and development partners to continue their invaluable support, both technical and material, as South Sudan navigates this critical phase of the transition to a democratic dispensation.

10.   May God bless the Republic of South Sudan.

I thank you. 

x

.        Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

-       Hon. Ministers

-       IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan

-       Incoming RJMEC Chair

-       Representative of the IGAD Executive Secretary 

-       Distinguished Guests

-       Diplomatic Corps

-       Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Afternoon!

1.   Today marks the conclusion of my tenure in the Republic of South Sudan as the Interim Chair of RJMEC, the institution which oversees, monitors and evaluates the status of implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). 

2.   When I assumed this duty in August 2020, South Sudan stood at a critical juncture. The RTGoNU has just been established, the COVID-19 pandemic was ravaging the world and had stalled implementation of the R-ARCSS. This was also the time the  Parties were in the process of establishing the remaining governance structures at the national, state and County levels.  

3.   Over the past 4½ years, I have also witnessed first-hand the dedication and resilience of the South Sudanese people, their unwavering desire for peace, and their commitment to building a better future for themselves and generations to come.

4.   This is a moment of reflection, acknowledging both the progress made and the challenges that remain on the path to lasting peace and stability in this remarkable nation.

5.   Notwithstanding challenges, we have jointly witnessed significant strides during my tenure. The guns have largely fallen silent since the signing of the R-ARCSS in 2018, a testament to the commitment of the parties to the permanent ceasefire. Key institutions were reconstituted, and progress have been made in various thematic areas, though a lot more is desired. In that regard, I commend the efforts of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity, the Parties to the Agreement, and all stakeholders for achieving the various milestones.

6.   However, the peace journey is far from over. I would like to reiterate the need to focus on key provisions of the Agreement to be implemented. The tasks include, among others, the making of the permanent constitution, unification of forces, judicial reforms and adequate preparations for elections. The completion of these tasks will make post-elections attractive and guarantees the rule of law.

7.     Inter-communal violence remains a concern, threatening the peace. The humanitarian situation is dire, with millions still in need of assistance. More political will and trust among the political leaders, and adequate funding can help alleviate some of these challenges. 

8.   The upcoming elections in 2026 present another critical juncture for South Sudan. It is imperative that these elections are conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner, ensuring the full participation of all South Sudanese and reflecting the will of the people. RJMEC will play a crucial role in monitoring the electoral process to ensure its credibility.

9.   As the path ahead is travelled, processes of transitional justice should not be delayed. These processes are critical in promoting the healing within the South Sudanese society. The Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing and the Compensation and Reparation Authority will need to be established to foster reconciliation and healing, and many more. 

10.       Moreover, the gender provisions of the Agreement are as important as ever. The RTGoNU needs to continue to give them the care and attention they deserve.  Also, let us not forget to support the most vulnerable population of this country – the South Sudanese returnees and IDPs in all your respective interventions. They deserve to live in dignity to enable them participate in the ongoing peace process.

11.     As the extended Transitional Period gets underway, let me reiterate what I have always said before: the R-ARCSS offers a beacon of hope, a roadmap towards a brighter future. All parties and peace stakeholders are therefore encouraged to renew their commitments to the full implementation of the R-ARCSS during the extended period. Peace is not merely the absence of war; it is the presence of justice, development, and inclusivity. It requires sustained dialogue, compromise, and a genuine commitment to putting the interests of the South Sudanese people first.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

12.  Throughout my time with RJMEC, I received much support from the people of South Sudan, as well criticisms. I take them in good faith. I wished I left this country with free and fair elections having been conducted in 2024. It is my hope that the two years extension will be the last. I therefore appeal to the leaders of this country to demonstrate a sense of urgency and immediately commence preparations for elections, focusing on priority areas.  

13.  I would like to commend H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, First Vice President Dr Riek Machar, Vice Presidents and all other party leaders for staying the course of peace and within the Agreement provisions. I am confident that the leaders of South Sudan shall continue to guide this country during this extended period within the spirit of collegiality, consensus and collaboration.

14.  I would also like to take this opportunity to thank His Excellency President Dr William Ruto, the Government of the Republic of Kenya and IGAD, for affording me this opportunity to lead such an esteemed peace commission in South Sudan

15.  Further, I sincerely thank the international partners who have continued to finance the operations and logistics of RJMEC, allowing us to faithfully discharge our mandate. Your continuous support to RJMEC is highly appreciated.

16.  I would also like to thank the 43 members of RJMEC, for their commitment, devotion and focus. These distinguished members have participated in 29 plenary meetings during my watch and of which I have chaired over the period. They have played their role with diligence and distinguished devotion to duty. Their efforts and contributions, including the Working Committees that they continue to participate in, is commendable and is invaluable in the South Sudan peace process.

17.   To my very able staff at the RJMEC Secretariat, led ably by Chief of Staff, Ambassador Berhanu Kebede: your tireless work and commitment has been of great help in my role as Chair, to all the RJMEC members and the people of South Sudan. As I hand over this RJMEC family to my successor, I am persuaded to believe that this family will provide him as much support as they have given me.

18.  Finally, I would like to thank my wife, children and grandchildren who have supported me as they endured my long intermittent absence from the family engagements. This has been their contributions to the South Sudan peace process.

19.  In conclusion, I wish my successor, Ambassador Major General (rtd) George Aggrey Owinow, every success in his role as Interim Chairperson of RJMEC. I have known him for a very long time and am pleased to call him a friend. I am sure his experience and judgement will stand RJMEC in excellent stead for the coming extended period.  

20.  I appeal to all of you to offer him the same level of support and cooperation as you did to me, and in doing so, I know that the mandate of RJMEC will continue to be discharged professionally, impartially and faithfully. 

Farewell. Kwaheri ya Kuonana. Wadae. Adieu!

May God Bless You, and May God Bless South Sudan.

I Thank You.

-      Hon Kuol Manyang Juuk, Senior Presidential Advisor, Security and Chair, National Transitional Committee

-       Honourable Ministers present

-       Honourable Members of Parliament present

-       Nicholas Haysom Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the UN

-       H.E. Dr Ismail Wais, IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan

-       H.E. Prof Joram Biswaro, Head of the AU Mission to South Sudan

-       Hon Prof Abednego Akok, Chairperson, National Elections Commission

-       Hon. James Zakayo Akol, Chairperson, Political Parties Council

-       Hon. Dr Riang Yer Zuor, Chairperson, National Constitutional Review Commission

-       Maj-Gen Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, Chairperson, Ceasefire & Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring & Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM)

-       Distinguished Guests 

-       Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning! 

1.  Allow me at the outset to extend greetings and best wishes from H.E. Amb Maj Gen (rtd) Charles Tai Gituai, Interim Chairperson of RJMEC who could not join us this morning due to prior commitments, and he has delegated me to deliver these remarks on his behalf. 

2.  I would also like to cease this opportunity to thank the United Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and partners for their great efforts towards making this High-Level Leadership Forum on Completing the Political Transition in South Sudan a reality. 

3.  This Forum whose theme is: “Finalizing Security Sector Unification, Advancing the Permanent Constitution-Making Process and Progressing Preparations for Elections” is quite apt at this moment as the country commences the extended Transitional Period in just a few days’ time on 22nd February 2025. 

4.  This Forum seeks to objectively reflect on the realities that inform the current status of implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, enable information dissemination of the status of the peace process, and adopt concrete strategies that enable the country achieve the aspiration of having the first democratic elections in December 2026. 

5.  Further, this Forum will be critical in bringing common understanding among partners on the impediments to the implementation of critical pending tasks, including completion of unification of forces, writing of a new permanent constitution and adequate preparations for the conduct of peaceful elections.

6.  I wish to pay great tribute to the critical actors and stakeholders who have continued to play a vital role in the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement over the past years. Your continuous push and encouragement to the RTGoNU and the Agreement Parties to stay the course is noteworthy. I hereby urge the participants of this workshop to work collectively in generating insightful recommendations that can inform arriving at a common understanding on how best to complete the transition.  

Honourable Members, Excellencies distinguished ladies and gentlemen, 

7.  South Sudan has now enjoyed six and a-half years of observance of the Permanent Ceasefire, which is commendable. The recent unfortunate skirmishes in some parts of the country between parties’ signatories to the Agreement, even though it is a violation of the Permanent Ceasefire provisions, it is important to recognize the strength of the Agreement institutions and mechanisms’ commitment and the resolve of the political leaders of South Sudan to overcome the challenges encountered in the course of the implementation the Peace Agreement.

8.  More importantly, it is evidence enough that the RTGoNU should work with greater urgency to ensure the completion of unification of forces and their redeployment to unify commands and to ensure proper command and control. The unification of all forces will undoubtedly lay a firm foundation for attainment of sustainable peace, security and prosperity for South Sudan.

9.  In this extended Transitional Period, the RJMEC being the official oversight, monitoring and evaluation body established under Chapter 7 of  the Revitalized Agreement will do its part and will continue to robustly execute its mandate, including reminding the Agreement Parties to maintain peace, focus on their commitments to the R-ARCSS including urging them to scale up their efforts in implementing all critical  tasks and adhere to agreed timelines and implementation schedule. 

10.     Key priorities of the transitional period include, among others, the making of the permanent constitution whose provisions will guide the conduct of elections, completion of unification of forces, and sufficient preparations for the conduct of elections. These are the very tasks which have necessitated the repeated extensions of the Agreement to date, because their non-completion risks reversing all the peace gains to date. 

11.     Given that we have only 24 months to the end of this extended transition, RJMEC therefore takes this opportunity to remind the Agreement Parties that the country, the region and the international community have high expectations that there will be no further extension and that all necessary milestones will be realized and marked by a peaceful democratic transition at the end of the Transition Period. 

12.     RJMEC encourages the Agreement Parties, stakeholders and all partners participating in this  Leadership Forum to explore practical approaches to achieve the critical benchmarks that will make the post-transitional arrangement more attractive than the status quo. Such a framework will ensure peaceful democratic elections that will usher in a smooth transition and consolidate the gains of the R-ARCSS. 

 I hereby wish you a successful Forum and fruitful deliberations. 

- Rt Honourable Speaker,

- Rt Honourable Deputy Speakers,

- Honourable Members,

- Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good morning!

1. At the outset, I would like to thank Right Honourable Jemma Nunu Kumba, Speaker of the reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) for inviting the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) to brief this august Assembly on the status of implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

2. As you are aware, RJMEC is the institution established under Chapter 7 of the Revitalised Peace Agreement with the mandate to, inter alia, oversee, monitor and report on the status of implementation of the Agreement.

3. Further, RJMEC is mandated to submit quarterly reports to, and brief the Executive of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) and its Council of Ministers; the reconstituted TNLA; the Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Assembly of Heads of State and Government; the Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers; the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC); the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU); the Secretary-General, and the Security Council of the United Nations.

4. In light of the aforementioned, this briefing summarises the latest RJMEC Quarterly Report covering the period from 1st July to 30th September 2024 and builds on the previous report presented to this august Assembly on 06th August 2024. 

5. I will therefore highlight key chapter by chapter update on the status of implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement as reported, any recent developments, as well as pending tasks, challenges impacting implementation, steps RJMEC has undertaken to encourage the implementers, guarantors and partners to address them, and conclude with recommendations. 

Right Hon. Speaker, Honorable Members,

6. Regarding preparations for elections, under governance, it should be recalled that early this year, RJMEC raised concerns on the slow implementation of the critical tasks required for the conduct of elections as scheduled in December 2024 and the lack of consensus among the Parties. 

7. In that regard, RJMEC urged the Parties to urgently dialogue within the spirit of consensus, compromise and agree on the way forward to the conduct of elections in a timely manner. RJMEC further urged the Parties to continue with the implementation of the uncompleted tasks of the R-ARCSS. 

8. Consequently, the Parties tasked the implementation mechanisms, namely the National Elections Commission (NEC), the Political Parties Council (PPC), the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC), the National Bureau of Statistics, the Security Mechanisms and the Electoral Security Committee to assess their completed, ongoing and pending tasks and what would be required to accomplish them before the elections. 

9. Following extensive deliberations over the criticality of the pending tasks such as the unification of forces, the permanent constitution which should guide elections and insufficient preparations for the conduct of elections, the Parties to the Agreement, by consensus, agreed in September 2024, to extend the Transitional Period from 22nd February 2025 to 22nd February 2027, with elections rescheduled to December 2026. 

10. The decision to extend the transition period was endorsed by the RTGoNU Council of Ministers and consented to by RJMEC at its Extraordinary Meeting of 18th September 2024 in accordance to Article 8.4 of the R-ARCSS. Subsequently, this august Assembly ratified the decision on 20th September 2024 and was assented to by H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, on 21st September 2024.  

Right Hon. Speaker, Honorable Members,

11. On judicial reforms, the report of the Judicial Reform Committee (JRC) was pending validation, as reported in the last quarter. However, since then, there has been some positive development in this regard. The JRC final report was recently validated and subsequently submitted to the RTGoNU for its consideration and adoption. RJMEC welcomes this development and underscores the importance of a reformed, independent and effective judiciary as an important anchor of stability, rule of law and promotion of human rights. Accordingly, the RTGoNU is urged to expedite the adoption and implementation of the JRC’s recommendations.

12. RJMEC applauds this august Assembly for the continuous discharge of its legislative functions and for enacting laws in support of the implementation of the Agreement. It is encouraging that most of the Agreement-related laws have already been enacted by this august Assembly. The recent laws which received Presidential assent include The Tourism Act; The Public Financial Management and Accountability Act; The National Bureau of Statistics Act; The Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing Act; The Civil Aviation Authority Act; and The Compensation and Reparations Authority Act. This is a welcome development and RJMEC looks forward to the enacted laws being operationalised.

13. However, during this reporting quarter, RJMEC noted with concern that there was a reduction in the positions held by women in the Executive, contrary to the minimum 35% threshold as stipulated in the Agreement. For example, the former Mayor of Juba City, a female, was replaced by a male. Further, it is observed that the only female governor in the country was recently replaced by a male governor, making all the ten states to have 0% women governor.  RJMEC urges that whenever a female incumbent is replaced, the Parties to the Agreement should pay due consideration to the 35% minimum requirement of women’s representation in the executive and other decision-making bodies as stipulated in the R-ARCSS. In this regard, the RJMEC further remains concerned with the lack of adherence by the NEC to the 35% women representation in the appointment of the State High Committees. 

Right Hon. Speaker, Honorable Members,

14. During the reporting period, the Permanent Ceasefire continued to hold, with no major clashes among the forces of the Parties to the R-ARCSS. However, some incidents of intercommunal violence were reported in Unity, Jonglei, and Lakes States, compounded by some security-related incidents in Juba. 

15. In addition, sporadic clashes between the SSPDF and the National Salvation Front (NAS) of Lt Gen. Thomas Cirillo were reported in some parts of Central Equatoria State. CTSAMVM could not fully investigate and report on the SSPDF and NAS clashes because NAS does not have representation in CTSAMVM and there is no communication between CTSAMVM and NAS, despite the NAS allied to Gen. Cirillo having signed the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of December 2017.

16. During the quarter, CTSAMVM submitted two violation reports, including one on the clash between the Unity State Governor’s Convoy Protection Team and SPLM/A-IO Forces in Jamus/Barkuor, Unity State. RJMEC submitted the reports to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the SSPDF and the Chairperson of the Joint Defence Board (JDB) urging implementation of the CTSAMVM recommendations on these two incidents.

17. On Transitional Security Arrangements, there has been very little progress on the unification of forces since the last report. The political process for the unification of the second command echelon has not yet been concluded.  However, in July 2024, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) appointed 2,995 non-commissioned officers (NCOs) of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) police component into the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS).

18. On humanitarian affairs, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reported that humanitarian access was severely hampered by floods, bureaucratic hurdles, and a sharp rise in attacks on aid workers and facilities, with 52 incidents reported in August alone. Main supply routes in Malakal, Longochuk, Maban, Old Fangak, Rubkona, and Southern Unity were rendered impassable. 

19. Due to these challenges on the use of road transport, the reliance on expensive air and river transport left more than 400,000 vulnerable people without essential support. Access to those in need was further constrained by the escalation of security incidents in various parts of the country, heightening the risk to humanitarian workers.

20. It is expected that the passage of the NGO Bill which is before this august Assembly, will help create a more conducive working environment for NGOs in South Sudan, thus improving access to those in need. By the end of the quarter, over 800,000 returnees and refugees had crossed into South Sudan, fleeing from the conflict in Sudan. Out of these, more than half remained stranded at the border counties in northern Upper Nile State, northern Unity State, and Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, in dire need of food, shelter and health services, among others.

21. In terms of resource, economic and financial management,   the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) has continued to outperform its targets in mobilising non-oil revenue and was able to largely support the government’s budget during this quarter. This increase was attributed to increased domestic revenue through higher personal income tax collections, which accounted for fifty per cent of the total.  

22. The Revenue Authority embarked on several capacity-building activities that have enhanced its ability to assess, collect and administer taxation. Further reforms are expected such as a review of the Customs Valuation Exchange rate, reduction in tax exemptions by 50%, introduction of betting, gaming, and lotteries tax and that of a Digital Service Tax (DST). 

23. The establishment of an effective public procurement and payroll system and cleansing exercise under the public service reform efforts are ongoing. The focus is on the civil service, as the security services already have the relevant systems in place. 

24. The Draft National Budget for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 was submitted to this august Assembly on 25 September 2024  three months behind the budget preparation schedule. The Resource Envelope for the period was given as SSP 2.258 trillion and the spending limit approved by the Cabinet was SSP 4.172 trillion. This created a spending gap or deficit that is estimated to be 85 percent of the available revenue. This deficit is to be financed through recovery in oil production, exchange rate alignment between the government official rate and the market determined rate, and concessional loans. 

25. Recently, the regulations which govern the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority and the Bank of South Sudan’s statutory functions have been developed, thereby facilitating optimal execution of its mandate. In particular, efforts have been made in strengthening the financial system by the Bank of South Sudan to promote financial stability through the development of prudential regulations and frameworks. 

Right Hon. Speaker, Honorable Members,

26. Under transitional justice, accountability, reconciliation and healing, the Bills on the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) and the Compensation and Reparation Authority (CRA) which were passed by this august Assembly during the last quarter were pending assent; these two bills have now been assented to by the President. In that regard, RJMEC welcomes this development and calls for their operationalisation.

27. In terms of the permanent constitution-making process, during the reporting period, the reconstituted National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) continued to develop its work plans and strategy, conducted capacity building of its personnel and upgraded its institutional infrastructure as it awaits substantive funding from the RTGoNU to embark on civic education and public consultations. RJMEC notes that the NCRC is ready and capable to deliver upon its mandate, if adequately resourced. The TNLA is encouraged to prevail on the Executive of the RTGoNU to avail the requisite funding, in a timely and predictable manner, to all the Agreement mechanisms to deliver on their mandates. 

Right Hon. Speaker, Honorable Members,

28. The implementation of the R-ARCSS has persistently faced recurring challenges resulting in a relatively slow pace of implementation. Among them are insufficient political will; lack of sufficient funding to the Agreement Institutions and Mechanisms;  trust deficit among the Parties; capacity gaps within the various implementation mechanisms; persistent levels of intercommunal violence in some states; insecurity caused by activities of some holdout groups, severe flooding and ramifications of the conflict in Sudan.

29. In order to help the RTGoNU and the Parties to address these impediments, RJMEC has been holding high-level engagements with the members of the Presidency, the RTGoNU Executive, the leadership of the Parties, other South Sudanese stakeholders and adherents, regional guarantors, and partners and friends of South Sudan. RJMEC has urged them to demonstrate commitment and enhance support for the implementation of the R-ARCSS during the extended period.

30. In light of the aforementioned, RJMEC offers the following recommendations: 

a. To the Parties to the Agreement and Relevant Stakeholders: 

i. continue engaging in dialogue during this critical period of the extension with a view to implementing the critical outstanding tasks; and 

ii. embrace the Tumaini Initiative as a means of bringing in, the holdout groups in the spirit of compromise, inclusivity, forgiveness and reconciliation, for the purpose of enhancing a united, peaceful and prosperous society based on justice equality and respect for human rights and the rule of law in the country. 

b. To the RTGoNU: 

i. avail requisite funding, in a timely manner, to the Agreement institutions and mechanisms and avail the overall funding of the peace agreement, as a matter of priority; 

ii. ensure that the judicial reforms process complements the permanent constitution-making process and the conduct of elections; 

iii. expeditiously set up functioning CTRH and CRA institutions and begin the task of truth and reconciliation to complement the overall peace agreement; 

iv. create an enabling civic and political space for citizens’ participation in governance;

v. provide, as a matter of urgency, all the resources necessary to complete redeployment of the remaining NUF, and complete harmonisation of the command structure to achieve a unified force with a national character, under one Commander-in-Chief; 

vi. pursue establishment of the Special Reconstruction Fund (SRF) and Board with a view to supporting the implementation of the R-ARCSS; and 

vii. develop detailed workplans for the NCRC, Security Mechanisms, and the NEC while ensuring that these mechanisms are fully funded to allow them to continue the constitution-making and elections processes.

c. To the TNLA: 

i. expedite the enactment of all pending amendment bills; 

ii. participate in creating an enabling civic and political space, including by considering to amend the NSS Act so as to address the contentious provisions on arrests without warrants and detention of suspects; and 

iii. continue supporting the allocation of the requisite resources for the financing of the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement. 

31. In conclusion, despite the challenges, the country remains relatively peaceful.  RJMEC commends this august Assembly for its continued legislation and enactment of laws and oversight responsibilities. However, I would like to underscore that two years is a very short time and there is need for a sense of urgency, prioritization, focus and deliberate demonstration of practical implementation of the Agreement tasks within timelines. It cannot be business as usual; and much remains to be done if free, fair and credible elections have to be conducted by December 2026, under a permanent constitution as envisaged in the Agreement.   

32. Therefore, having agreed to a two-year extension of the Peace Agreement, it is imperative that the RTGoNU, TNL and all other stakeholders should work diligently to complete the pending tasks of the Agreement, particularly those related to the Permanent Constitution-making, electoral preparations, unification of the forces, and transitional justice. At the same time, further opening up of civic and political space cannot be overemphasised, in order to provide an enabling environment for political participation by the general public, especially in the constitution-making and election processes.  

33. All of these efforts should be consolidated by the RTGoNU availing sufficient financial resources to drive success in implementation of the R-ARCSS. The TNLA is therefore urged to enhance its effectiveness in discharging its oversight responsibility and to prevail on the RTGoNU to adhere to the agreed implementation schedule, provide funding and ensure accountable and transparent utilisation of allocated resources.

Right Hon. Speaker, Honorable Members, I Thank You!

…………………………………………………………….

Amb. Maj Gen (rtd) Charles Tai Gituai CBS

RJMEC Interim Chairperson

.        H.E. Dr. Wani Igaa, Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan;

-       Rt. Hon. Jema Nunu Kumba, Speaker of the TNLA;

-       Hon. Losuba Ludoru Wongo, Minister for Federal Affairs;

-       Mr Guang Cong, Deputy SRSG [Representative of UNMISS];

-       Amb. Prof. Joram Biswaro, SRCC and Head of the African Union Mission in South Sudan

-       Honorable Ministers, Excellencies 

-       Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

-       All Protocol Observed

Good Morning!

1.   At the outset, I bring you warm greetings from H.E. Amb. Maj. Gen (rtd) Charles Tai Gituai, Interim Chairperson of RJMEC, who is unable to be here in person, at the opening of this high-level forum, due to unavoidable circumanstances.

2.   On behalf of the Interim Chairperson of RJMEC, allow me to thank the Council of States, the Ministry of Petroluem and the Ministry of Finance and Planning for convening this forum on: “Fiscal Devolution, Wealth Sharing and Revenue Management in South Sudan”. 

3.   In a special way, I would like to extend RJMEC’s appreciation to the UNMISS and UNDP for their continued support to the implementation of the R-ARCSS and for facilitating the convening of this forum.

4.   From RJMEC’s perspective, looking back to 2016, and prior, the conversations about federalism and its key tenets in the Republic of South Sudan have come a long way, and it is today very constructive, informative and progressive. 

5.   The ongoing conversations on federalism and the widely held expectation for a permanent constitution based on a federal system of government in the Republic of South Sudan after the Transitional Period, underscores a positive change in attitude, incuding the importance of getting the design and implementation of federalism right.

6.   So far, a lot of work has been done by the Ministry of Federal Affairs which has developed a clear policy guideline on federalism, other line Ministries supporting this endeavors, the Transitional National Legislature enacting laws to support reforms and the implementation of the Agreement, and various partners such as UNMISS, UNDP, the Max Plank Foundation and the International IDEA, who have all contributed to this endeavour.

7.   Today’s forum is particularly important, given that “fiscal responsibility and wealth sharing” are not only some of the key hallmarks of federalism  but also an area fraught with conflicts, and sometimes, they are the key obstacles, for the implementation of a viable federal arrangement.

8.   RJMEC therefore welcomes the timely nature of this high-level forum, delving deeper into this issue of fiscal federalism, wealth creation, and revenue management, and for bringing the reconstituted NCRC on board, to illuminate its various facets, listen to current concerns from the people on the ground, researchers, stakeholders, practitioners, and learn experiences and best practices.

9.       Furthermore, I would like to underscore that this engagement is a positive step to achieving the provision of Article 4.1.6 of the R-ARCSS which states:  “Revenue sharing shall reflect a commitment to devolution of powers and resources, and the decentralization of decision-making in regard to development, service delivery and governance”.  

10.   Furthermore, the conversations here will contribute to the implementation of Article 4.1.5 of R-ARCSS, which states that “the wealth of South Sudan shall be shared equitably so as to enable each level of government to discharge its reconstruction, development, legal and constitutional obligations, duties and responsibilities”.

11.  In conclusion, for fiscal devolution to be effective, there are a number of preconditions which need to taken into consideration. They include, among others,  a stable political environment; effective autonomous subnational governments; institutional capacity at regional/state and local levels of government; government accountability; effective democratic election infrastructure at all levels of government; and capacity to raise adequate levels of revenue locally.

12.  Finally, RJMEC is optimistic and confident that the outcome of this forum will go a long way in identifying a viable fiscal federalism model for South Sudan that can enhance effective governance, equitable development, and sustainable peacebuilding in a democratic and federal South Sudan. 

13.  I wish you fruitful deliberations over the next two days.

I Thank You!