Sep 25, 2021 — Speaking in the neighboring Sudan, a group of lawmakers who were delegated to Khartoum by the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, to champion peace and reconciliation among the SPLA factions in Sudan revealed that the Revitalized Agreement of the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCISS) is collapsing yet again unless something is urgently done.
Addressing a gathering in Khartoum, Sudan, Dr. Koung Dak, the head of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, acknowledged that the security arrangements are not being implemented, which is one of the main reasons that is fueling split within the SPLA-IO.
According to Mr. Dak, forces are stranded in training camps for more than two years without sufficient food supplies, medicines and other basic needs. He appeals to Sudanese leaders to intervene being one of the key guarantors.
“The security arrangements dossier is stalling and the forces have been in training camps for two years without being graduated,” Dr. Kuong Dak warned while addressing a conference in Khartoum on Wednesday.
“We appeal to the guarantors, particularly Sudan which is the IGAD chair, to intervene. If the peace agreement is not implemented fully, there will be problems,” Kuong added.
Dak blames the government for failing to fund the security arrangement as agreed in the peace agreement.
“Under the peace agreement, the government was supposed to fund the security arrangements by supporting the forces. Unfortunately, no support is being provided to the forces in training camps,” Kuong said.
While the peace and reconciliation committee wish to clarify their part, they called on Kitgwang faction to understand that they [SPLM/A-IO in Juba] are not responsible for the delay in implementation of the security arrangement.
“Our faction is not the main cause for delays in the implementation of the security arrangements. The main partner peace, the SPLM is to blame for the failure of the security file, which is a cornerstone of the peace agreement,” Said Hon.John Orach, a member of South Sudan’s parliament representing Machar’s SPLM-IO and member of the peace and reconciliation committee.
Addressing the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Friday, September 24, the Vice President for Youth and Gender Cluster Hon. Rebecca Nyandeng Garang de Mabior also acknowledged the delay in implementation of the security arrangements but said the leaders should continue to dialogue and resolve the outstanding issues.
“The security sector reform is the most challenging part of the Agreement as it contains elements at the center of the violent conflicts in the country.”
“The parties to the Agreement and other stakeholders should continue dialogue to build the mutual understanding and confidence needed to address and resolve longstanding differences. Building sustainable peace requires inclusivity, collective investment, determination, diligence, and patience.” Rebecca continued.
While the SPLM/A-IO stands on a much vulnerable position compared to 2016, some of Machar’s supporters are confident that the little progress made within the last three years could be consolidated.
Unlike the 2015 peace agreement that collapsed within one year, the current peace agreement has reached the end of its initial three-year term, which expired on September 12, 2021; however, due to extensions that were given, the politicians have lost counts on when the peace agreement should expire and it remains unclear if elections would be organized in 9 months or so from now.
