April 22, 2019(Nyamilepedia) — South Sudan Peace Agreement, acronymized as the Revitalized Agreement of the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan(R-ARCiSS), is facing a new shift as its Pre-transitional period comes to an end.
Falling in the footsteps of its earlier version, the R-ARCiSS stands at the brink of failure as parties disagree on forming the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity on May 12th as stipulated in the agreement.
On one hand, the government – owing to its military advantage in the capitals – wants the RTGNU forms as soon as possible; however, on the other hand, the armed oppositions wants the pre-transitional period extended for upto six months to allow for complete implementation of the security arrangement to ensure that leaders of all sides are secured to focus mostly on implementation of the peace agreement as opposed to their own safety.
Security Arrangement Not Implemented.
Speaking on behalf of the SPLM/A in Opposition, Hon. Henry Odwar, the Deputy Chairman and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM/A(IO), and the leader of SPLM/A(IO) delegation to Juba, said the current security arrangement is not feasible to implement a peace agreement.
“Without security arrangement is not feasible for us to have a country, one government and then a divided army. That is a recipe for disaster.” Hon. Odwar said.
The SPLM/A(IO) Deputy Chairman adds that the issue of states has not been resolved and therefore the parties cannot form a unity government when important prerequisites are still pending.
“Another most important issue that will not allow us to form a government in May is the number of states because how can you have a central government and then purported that you have states but you have not yet decided on the number of states.” Hon. Odwar said.
Despite lack of implementation of pre-transitional arrangements, the government of Salva Kiir insists that it will form the RTGNU without the opposition groups.
Henry Odwar responded that if the government will be so inclined to form a government without the main armed opposition, then be it.
“Well, if the government wants to be so intransigence that it wants to form the government alone then I as the leader of the IO in peace arrangement, I will have to ask all my colleagues in all the various mechanisms to withdraw and make a decision outside Juba as to how we go about this peace process;
“But I would like to assure the people of South Sudan that we are committed to peace and there is no way we can go into a situation whereby the status quo prevails. We want reforms in this country and we will do our best to make sure that we bring peace to South Sudan.”
In case if their[IO] demands are not made, Odwar suggests that the IO will consult the guarantors to pressurize the regime to adhere to its commitment to implement the peace agreement in letter and spirit.
Despite that the main peace guarantor, Omar El Bashir, has been ousted by his people through the help of military, Odwar calls on the Sudan’s incoming leadership to pick up from where president Bashir left and continue to support the peace agreement.
The SPLM/A(IO) calls on President Museveni, IGAD, African Union, TROIKA and the United Nations to intervene should Salva Kiir’s government violates the peace agreement.
“One of them got kicked out recently but yes Sudan should continue and follow the paths of Bashir in bringing peace in South Sudan. We ask President Museveni as guarantor to ensure that this peace process is continuous and all the IGAD partners and the region, the AU, the UN to pressurize those who would like to make short cuts and bring to an end a peace process that may even cause more problems” Hon. Odwar concludes.
It is Disgusting;
Responding to President Salva Kiir’s recent order on Dr. Machar to immediately report to Juba, Maj. Gen. Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the SPLMAIO Representative to the National Constitutional Amendment Committee(NCAC), expressed his disappointment in a few words saying “it is Disgusting,…, it is Sad, there is nothing new”.
“It is Disgusting, Â the ill thought statement on Easter Day by president Salva Kiir. It is clear that in the minds of the regime in Juba, the whole Revitalize Agreement is about formation of yet another transitional government and not implementation. Sad! There is nothing new.”
Dr. Oyet believes that the little progress that was made in the last few months has now evaporated as president Salva Kiir spoiled Easter Season and the prospects of a lasting peace in the country.
“This is a clear vindication of no change of attitude and political direction. The little political will nurtured over the few months is quickly fading away.”
Dr. Oyet, a former head of political science department at Juba University and military governor of Imatong State, explains that the Pre-Transitional Agreement that include unification of forces, number of states and boundaries have been thrown through the windows either in Juba or at the Vatican Guesthouse.
“The logic of using Vatican retreats as a scapegoat and pretext to violate the Agreement is primordial and a non starter. We will not accept.” Governor Oyet reiterates.
Return to Negotiation Table
Hon. Oyet explains that as stipulated in the Revitalized Peace protocol, South Sudan’s warring parties should return to the negotiation table to review the Pre-transitional period if they mean business.
“As the deadline for the Pre-Transitional period comes to an end, the parties must prepare to go back to a negotiating table taking all the unaccomplished tasks of the pre-transitional period as set out in Art. 1.4.3; and particularly whole of Chapter II, etc as outstanding issues. Any attempt to treat these provisions of the Agreement as if they do not exist is a fundamental violation of the Agreement itself and a recipe for total collapse of the peace deal.” Oyet said.
The SPLM/A(IO) diplomat believes that Salva Kiir government has taken advantage of having leaders of the oppositions in Juba and therefore they opted not to implement the peace agreement.
“The presence of opposition figures in Juba has given incentives to the regime not to implement the Agreement anymore. The main preoccupation now is to achieve political leverage over the opposition.” Dr. Oyet explains.
The SPLM/A(IO) wonders what Juba would do with forces of the armed oppositions that are currently being trained in cantonment areas whether or not the government wants to amalgamate them or fit them to fight each other.
“But what will you do with the forces currently in the assembly areas? Fight them or unite them? The government is trying to rewind the clock backward to 2016 where rival forces in town sparked violence where no one will be a winner.” Dr. Oyet continue.
“No Honor in Pursuing Personal Ambition”
Speaking during Eastern Sunday in Juba, South Sudan, president Salva Kiir challenged his arch rivals to put down their personal interests and join him in Juba to establish the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity.
“We should hold the interests of our people above and beyond any personal fears, resentments and or interests and deliver the peace they urgently need without delay and without any reservations” President Kiir mortifies his opponents.
“There is no honor in pursuing personal ambitions that go contrary to the popular demands of the people” He continued.
President Kiir believes that if formation of the new government is delayed as Machar and other opposition leaders dictate, then the people may doubt the viability of the peace agreement and that is the last thing he wants to do.
“The whole agreement hinged on the formation of the Unity Government and any delay to this would be an act of bad faith in the eyes of our people” Kiir said.
“I hold the view that any delay to the formation of government would crush the hopes of our people for peace. It would create the sense of weariness and uncertainty about the viability of the peace agreement and this is the last thing our country needs” He continued.
