By Sabri Dibaco
The Chairperson of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), Maj. Gen. Teshome Anagawe Ayana, has warned that South Sudan’s security situation remains “volatile and unpredictable.”
He cited continued armed violence, criminal ambushes, and intercommunal conflicts as major threats to the implementation of the country’s revitalised peace agreement.
Speaking during the Sixth CTSAMVM Technical Committee Meeting at the Beijing Juba Hotel on Thursday, Ayana said insecurity across several parts of the country continues to undermine the implementation of Chapter II of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
“The overall security environment across South Sudan remains volatile and unpredictable. Localised armed violence, criminal ambushes, intercommunal conflicts, and restrictions on civilian movement continue to affect several parts of the country, posing challenges to the implementation of Chapter II of the Revitalised Agreement,” the statement reads.
Ayana highlighted recent violence in Akobo County, Jonglei State, where the White Army allegedly attacked and killed the SPLM-IG commissioner of Akobo and members of his delegation on 5 July 2026. He noted that the incident prompted the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) to call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and tasked CTSAMVM with investigating the clashes.
CTSAMVM also outlined recent monitoring missions, including investigations into attacks on civilians in Upper Nile State, Warrap State, and Tonj South County. However, Ayana revealed that one monitoring patrol to Basilia in Western Bahr el Ghazal State was blocked by joint security forces.
“On 08 July 2026, a planned short-duration patrol by MVT Wau to Basilia was aborted… due to denial of access at a checkpoint by joint security forces, which prevented the patrol from reaching its designated destination,” the statement read in part.
Looking ahead, CTSAMVM announced plans to conduct further investigations in Yei, Morobo, Lobonok, Nasir, Nyirol, and Lakes State in August to examine alleged ceasefire violations and attacks on civilians.
The mechanism also reiterated its recommendations to all parties to recommit themselves to the permanent ceasefire and strengthen joint security arrangements.
“All signatory parties to the R-ARCSS are urged to recommit to the permanent ceasefire, avoid any actions that could undermine it, and ensure full compliance with their obligations under the revitalized peace agreement,” the statement reads in part.
CTSAMVM further called on the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) to strengthen the Joint Defense Board, enhance coordinated security deployments, and improve accountability within security institutions to better protect civilians and uphold human rights.
Concluding his final technical committee meeting as CTSAMVM chairperson, Ayana reaffirmed the monitoring body’s commitment to impartial verification of alleged ceasefire violations.
“CTSAMVM remains firmly committed to its mandate. We shall continue to monitor, verify, and report on alleged violations impartially and neutrally to support the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement,” the statement partly reads.
CTSAMVM is the regional mechanism established under Chapter II of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) to monitor and verify compliance with the permanent ceasefire and transitional security arrangements. The mechanism investigates security incidents, reports on violations, and provides recommendations to peace agreement institutions to support the implementation of the 2018 peace accord.
The latest security assessment comes amid renewed tensions in parts of Upper Nile, Jonglei, Warrap, and Central Equatoria states, where localised violence, communal clashes, and attacks by armed groups continue to threaten South Sudan’s fragile peace process ahead of the country’s planned elections.