Opening Statement
By Maj. Gen. Desta Abiche Ageno Chairman
Juba, July 4th 2019,
July 5th, 2019(Nyamilepedia) — CTC members, Dear Colleagues, Representatives from the Board and Partners, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Welcome to the 12th meeting of the CTSAMVM Technical Committee.
Much has happened since we last met. Our Board met on June 13. I updated both the JMEC Plenary on 18 June and the IGAD Council of Ministers on 19 June on CTSAMVM’s work. As you know, AJMC Training took place here in Juba from 10 to 14 June, and the JTSC Training Centre Assessment Committee deployed from 30 June. CTSAMVM very much welcomes the work of the security mechanisms as we move together towards peace for South Sudan.
The ceasefire continues to hold throughout most of the country with no reported incidents of violence between the Parties. There are tensions in several areas but the indications are that these are a result of intercommunal differences. CTSAMVM continues to monitor the overall security situation and reports of tension in order to encourage early mediation to prevent escalation.
CTSAMVM continues to monitor and verify cantonment sites as directed by the JDB. We are now seeing much improvement in our coordination and cooperation with the JMCC who are leading in conducting assessments of the cantonment sites and developing cantonment policy.
However, CTSAMVM has observed numerous logistical challenges in requests to support the provision of food, water, medicine and shelter from those troops who are already cantoned and those who are supposed to be cantoned. CTSAMVM also observed slow progress of cantonment. We urge the Parties and the NPTC to address those issues as a matter of urgency. CTSAMVM will continue to monitor and verify cantonment sites, and the impact they have on local communities including women and children. Without cantonment, the Peace Agreement cannot be implemented and we must maintain the momentum towards peace.
CTSAMVM has much improved coordination and cooperation with the JTSC who have provided us with the agreed list of 16 training centres to be assessed and verified before the training of necessary unified forces can begin. Wherever possible, CTSAMVM will continue to support the JTSC and its committees with advice, monitoring and verification.
I am pleased to report that we have experienced a steady improvement in the reduction of denials of access since we last met, and I give credit to the Parties’ chains of command in enforcing this important element from the Peace Agreement. We very much appreciate the efforts of all the Parties to continue to ensure us access during this critical Extended Pre-Transitional period. I also urge the SSPDF leadership to solve the issues with 3rd Division to allow access of force verification still remains denial the access.
I remind all Parties of their commitment to vacate civilian buildings by June 15. That date has now passed and still we observe a significant number of civilian buildings occupied by the armed forces. Moving forward, CTSAMVM will consider the continuing occupation of civilian buildings as a violation of Chapter II of the R-ARCSS.
Last Friday, a joint field visit was conducted to Pibor. We were encouraged to see that the proposed cantonment site in Teneth conducted successfully.
CTSAMVM also successfully conducted a SGBV workshop for our MVT Team Leaders and CTC members just yesterday.
The financial challenges at CTSAMVM remain and continue to negatively impact its activities. Finally, I remind you all that CTSAMVM is independent, impartial and neutral. Our cooperation with the Parties enables CTSAMVM to fulfil its mission without leading to bias against any party or any of CTSAMVM’s partners.
Thank you.
