By Yiep Joseph
President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Wednesday reconstituted a committee to tackle implementation of pending tasks in the 2018 peace agreement.
Almost with similar personalities to the National Transition Committee (NTC), President Kiir on Wednesday, reconstituted a High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on the Implementation of the 2018 peace agreement.
The 31 members committee from various political parties and stakeholders, announced over state owned media, South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC). is aimed at spending up the implementation of the pending tasks.
Among those appointed are Kuol Manyang Juuk, from Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) as the Chairperson deputized by Lasuba Ludoru Wongo from Sudan People Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO).
Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro from National Agenda, also a signatory to the peace agreement, became the Secretary General of the committee, meanwhile, rest members are from various political parties.
According to the appointment order, the High-Level Ad Hoc Committee will oversee peace implementation process as well as strengthening implementation of the pending tasks.
The committee’s mandate includes oversight of Peace Deal Implementation as well as ensuring the effective implementation of all chapters of the R-ARCSS except Chapter Two (transitional security arrangements).
Others include Coordination for Elections, Stakeholder Engagement, Resource Mobilization and other Assigned task such as any other responsibilities assigned by the Presidency.
The changes in the high-level peace committee came at the time when Dr. Riek Machar, the leader of SPLM/A-IO is under detention. Some of his allies are also under detention, outside the country. or object the current procedures.
Meanwhile, a group under Stephen Par Kuol, a newly formed Interim faction of SPLM-IO based in Juba, is active and vows to implement the peace agreement.
However, Sudan People Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Under detained, Dr. Riek Machar Teny objects the reconstitution of the High-Level Ad Hoc Committee.
According to a statement extended to the media, Pal Mai Deng Minister of water resources and spokesperson of SPLM-IO, under Oyet Nathanial led group rejected the order, saying it violates the agreement.
“The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) has strongly rejected President Salva Kiir’s Republican Order No. 17/2025, issued today (Wednesday) which establishes a Specialized Ad-hoc Committee for the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS)” Pal said in a statement.
He expressed that the decision is a violation to the 2018 peace agreement.
Pal claimed the appointees to the committee are Par committees adding that some of them no longer present the SPLM-IO for them to assume such highest position.
Despite the contention, Michael Adium, a political analyst, in an interview with this outlet, expressed that the President’s decision to reconstitute the committee, is meant to implement the peace agreement
He noted that, President Salva Kiir has no other option but to incorporate the SPLM-IO faction that supports continuity of implementation of the peace agreement.
Adium urged the SPLM-IO and other parties not satisfied with the decision to push for a meeting that will resolve such gaps.
He reiterated the decision may result to present in peace implementation should the appointed officials sacrifice themselves to speed up the pending tasks.
Meanwhile Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director for Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) urged the newly appointed members to commit themselves and ensure that the pending task are implemented.
“My appeal to the newly appointed members in the committee is to respond to multiple calls made by the Civil society and ensure the pending task in the peace agreement are implemented” he said
Some of the pending tasks include the unification of forces as well as the ongoing preparation for the country to have permanent constitution among others.
Yakani appealed to the Committee to call for an inclusive dialogue for all stakeholders in order move the peace agreement forward.
He urged the committee to put efforts in security arrange citing that slow implementation of the security arrangement take the country backward.
“I am appealing to the high-level committee to put the implementation as priority in order to prevent the country from returning back to war” he said
He urged the leaders to fit the security arrangement in a way that can create stability in the country.