Communication Office

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Thursday, 17 July Juba, South Sudan

RJMEC RELEASES ITS LATEST QUARTERLY REPORT, CALLS FOR RESTORATION OF TRUST AMONG PARTIES AND RETURN TO FULL AND INCLUSIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE R-ARCSS

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has today released its Quarterly Report on the status of implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). 

In the report covering the 2nd quarter of the year (1st April to 30th June 2025), the Commission notes that, overall, the implementation of the key provisions of the Revitalised Peace Agreement faced severe setbacks during the reporting period, with progress largely stalled and the risk of renewed conflict increasing. 

“The general political and security situation in the Republic of South Sudan continued to deteriorate, with the Permanent Ceasefire severely compromised by repeated clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army–In Opposition (SPLA-IO), along with their allied forces,” the report said. 

The report, prepared pursuant to Article 7.9 of the R-ARCSS, said heightened political tension persisted during the reporting period, including the continued house arrest of the First Vice President (FVP), Dr. Riek Machar, and Chairperson of SPLM/A-IO and detention of other high-ranking SPLM/A-IO members. 

“This only serves to deepen mistrust am ong key parties to the R-ARCSS and undermine confidence of the people of South Sudan, the region and international community on the commitment of the parties to the implementation of the Agreement in letter and spirit,” said the report.

“Additionally, unilateral dismissals and appointments undertaken without the requisite consultations and/or consensus among the peace partners, constituted clear breaches of the letter and spirit of the responsibility-sharing arrangements under the governance chapter of the R-ARCSS, further eroding trust and undermining its implementation,” it added. 

The 16-page report continues that despite extensive high-level diplomatic efforts by regional and international actors, no significant breakthrough has been achieved in resolving the political and security impasse in the country.

“Further, the absence of direct dialogue between the leadership of the Parties, particularly between the Incumbent Transitional Government of National Unity (ITGoNU) and the SPLM/A-IO, reflects deeper underlying mistrust and unresolved grievances that continue to hinder effective implementation of the R-ARCSS,” the report notes.  

Nonetheless, RJMEC welcomes continued diplomatic interventions as important gestures of political goodwill, aimed at encouraging the country’s leaders to prioritize the aspirations of ordinary citizens for peace, dignity, and security to be at the core of all political discussions and interventions. 

Among its recommendations, RJMEC urges that the transitional government to resolve the issues surrounding the house arrest of Dr. Riek Machar and other SPLM/A-IO leaders currently in detention pursuant to the Communiqué of the 1283rd Meeting of the AUPSC,  and ensure the functionality of all the Agreement implementation institutions and mechanisms, especially the Transitional Security Mechanisms.

“In order to kickstart this process there must be a restoration of trust, which necessarily involves releasing of the SPLM/A-IO detainees and restoring full and inclusive participation of all parties in the various Agreement Institutions and Mechanisms,” it said. 

The full report: https://bit.ly/4f5nrDd 

ENDS