By Yiep Joseph
Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has called on Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) to resolve internal division to ease peace implementation.
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, constituted under Chapter VII of the R-ARCSS, is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement. The mandate and tasks of the RTGoNU, include the adherence of the Parties to the agreed timelines and implementation schedule.
The peace monitor made the call during a meeting with the reconstituted High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on Implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
According to a statement, George Aggrey Owinow, interim chairperson of RJMEC, outlined challenges facing the agreement, including the division among the SPLM-IO leadership.
During a meeting with the high-level peace committee, the RJEMC boss called for urgent implementation of the pending tasks in order to meet the timeline as the election date approaches.
In addition to the pending tasks in the 2018 peace agreement, the recent division among parties and particularly among the leadership of the SPLM-IO remains a challenge in the peace implementation.
In order never to spoil the progress already made in the peace implementation, RJMEC interim chairperson George Aggrey Owinow has called on the parties to the peace agreement to double efforts in implementing the pending tasks as well as solving differences.
“The RJMEC Interim Chairperson urged the SPLM/A-IO to resolve their differences using internal structures in order to ensure their active participation in the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement,” the statement partly read.
In line with the 2018 peace agreement, Aggrey called on the parties to the peace agreement to ensure inclusive implementation of the peace agreement.
“In closing, the interim chairperson appealed for an inclusive implementation of the R-ARCSS,” the statement partly read.
Based on the statement, the interim chairperson shared his concerns about the challenges facing the agreement, including limited timeframes for implementation, lack of predictable funding to agreement mechanisms, and the prevailing political and security situation.
He urged the parties to ensure the resolution of the crisis and expeditious, inclusive implementation.
The chairperson reiterated RJMEC’s commitment to continue engaging with all the parties and stakeholders to the peace agreement, including the regional and international community.
Recently, a sharp division engulfed the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) over who is the right party chairperson to support.
After the house arrest of Dr. Riek Machar, the chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A-IO), some of the members, including the deputy chairperson, Oyet Nathaniel, left the country and declared the 2018 peace agreement dead.
However, in an attempt to continue with the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement, a group of prominent SPLM/A-IO figures led by Minister of Peace Building Stephen Par Kuol reiterated their commitment to peace as they called for the release of Dr. Machar.
Oyet Nathaniel, the SPLM/A-IO deputy chair, in his place of hiding, slapped the four members, including Minister Par Kuol, with suspension, citing that they wanted to overthrow Dr. Machar with support from the government.
To deepen the division, Suspended Stephen Par Kuol and the members convened a consultative meeting that brought hundreds of members together in an event that turned out to be a nomination for interim chair as well as deputy and secretary general.
Stephen Par Kuol’s successful nomination as interim chair, replacing Dr. Machar, who is under house arrest, received a series of rejections from SPLM/A-IO members.
After assuming the seat of interim chair, Stephen Par Koul expressed that the decision was not meant to replace Dr. Machar but to ease his release as well as the implementation of the peace agreement.
However, according to a separate press statement extended to the media, Oyet Nathaniel, acting chairman of SPLM-IO, rubbished the Dr. Machar replacement by Par Kuol.
Oyet expressed that the meeting that ousted Dr. Machar was illegal and urged all the members to distance themselves from Par Koul’s leadership, citing that they are being used to spoil the agreement.
“The gathering failed to meet the provision of the party constitution; it was not only illegal but null and void,” he said.
“The replacement of Dr. Machar by suspended members of SPLM/A-IO is illegal, and I urge our members to distance themselves from Par Kuol,” he added.