Second Round of the South Sudan High-level Revitalization Forum…
The second phase of the IGAD-led High-level Revitalization Forum for South Sudan opened on Monday (February 5) in Addis Ababa. The focus for this session, following the first phase of the Revitalization Forum which ended successfully on December 21 with signing of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities and on unhindered delivery of humanitarian access, is on matters of Governance, interim arrangements, a permanent ceasefire and security arrangements.
This session of the Forum has brought together delegates representing the government, political parties and oppositions, former detainees and Civil Society organizations along with estranged groups. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister and Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers, the African Union Commission Chairperson, the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, the JMEC Deputy Chairperson, representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, the Troika (Norway, UK, and USA), China, and the IGAD Partners Forum (IPF) all attended the opening session.
This second phase of the High-level Revitalization Forum is seen as absolutely crucial for bringing an end to the on-going violent conflict in South Sudan. Foreign Minister Dr. Workneh in his opening remarks underlined that the representatives of the South Sudanese parties must think of the people they represent, not consider themselves as individuals striving for power. The parties have had numerous opportunities to change direction, he said, and they had repeatedly failed, adding that “this really is the very last chance for you to accept your responsibilities and take the necessary actions.” The Minister said: “No breakthrough in a peace process happens merely as a result of wishful thinking or chance; rather it requires determination, hard work and most of all the genuine commitment of all parties.”
Dr. Workneh thanked all those groups and entities that have been showing support to the peace process in South Sudan as well as those South Sudanese delegations actively participating in the revitalisation process. He pointed out that the IGAD Member States, the African Union, the international community, and the South Sudanese people themselves had all had high hopes after the signature of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, within hours of the signing, he noted there have been allegations and counter-allegations of violations reported by the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM). Dr. Workneh made it very clear that all violators of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement would be held accountable. He urged all parties to fully adhere to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of December 21 and concluded by underlining that High-level Revitalization Forum was a golden opportunity to bring peace and prosperity to South Sudan.
AU Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, underlined that the African Union and its member states could no longer wait for an end to South Sudanese belligerence. Stating that at least 1.2 million South Sudanese, 85% of them women and children, were now displaced, he said, “It is more than high time to prove your promises to your fellow South Sudanese.” He said that demonstration of strong and determined political will and actions as per the agreed and achieved results of the peace process would “close the very sad chapter of South Sudan in no time”. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Chairperson Moussa Faki said: “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of mankind.” Naming the conflict as “a daring insult to human values”, Moussa Faki expressed his hope that all the stakeholders to the process would transcend their egos and selfish desires and commit themselves to the ongoing peace process.
Nicholas Haysom, the UN Special Envoy to South Sudan, underscored the critical importance of inclusivity and called for a comprehensive security arrangement mechanism and strong oversight and monitoring mechanism to fast track the peace process. Alex Rondos, EU Representative to the Horn of Africa, noted that the dialogue could not be a mechanical exercise but would be part of a very important effort towards ensuring viable peace in South Sudan. Troika Representative, Chris Trott, strongly supported the IGAD decision to take action against any violators of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. Ambassador Lt. General Augostino Njoroge, Deputy Chairperson of JMEC, underlined that peace was achievable and “what is needed is now a sense of comradeship and the same spirit that was witnessed in the first phase of the HLRF.”
As participants of the Forum hold the talks aiming to provide the people of South Sudan with a final peace, the country’s religious leaders have stressed the need to exercise restraint, forgiveness, love and reconciliation to ensure a successful outcome, to restore a permanent ceasefire and achieve full and inclusive implementation of the Agreement of the Resolution on the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) of August 2015.
This week the parties have begun considering substantive issues arising from the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict on South Sudan (ARCSS) that was signed in August, 2015. Discussions covered issues ranging from the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and the Council of States, and from the Judiciary to the Transitional Institutions and Mechanisms stipulated under Chapter I of Article 11, 12 and 14 of the Agreement. A consensus was reached on Wednesday on Article 2 of Chapter I of the August 2015 Agreement, concerning the mandate of the Transitional Government of the National Unity (TGoNU). Following discussions on Thursday on the provisions of the Declarations of Principles to provide guiding principles for the main Agreement and serve as the basis for ongoing talks, these will be open for signature on Friday (February 9).
…with growing international pressure for a real and urgent peace agreement
The United States of America imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan last week, and urged the United Nations and other countries to do the same. In a statement released on Friday (February 2) the State Department, saying it was “appalled” by the continuing violence that had defied the agreed cease-fire, announced that the U.S. was restricting all sales of defense equipment and services to any and all of the parties to South Sudan’s conflict. The arms restriction is limited to US jurisdiction and does not directly affect weapon flows from other countries. The State Department also called on South Sudan’s neighbors to implement similar arms restrictions and urged the U.N. Security Council to support a global embargo on any arms to the country. The statement said: “The message must be clear. The United States, the region and the international community will not stand idly by as innocent South Sudanese civilians are murdered.”.
Following the State Department statement, the South Sudan government recalled its ambassador to the United States. Ambassador Garang Diing Akuong was ordered back to Juba. First Vice-President Taban Deng Gai said the U.S. move would negatively impact on efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict in his country.
The European Union also imposed sanctions on Friday last week (February 2) on three current and former South Sudanese officials allegedly implicated in human rights violations and obstructions of their country’s peace process. Former army Chief of Staff General Paul Malong, Deputy Chief of Defense and Inspector General Malek Reuben Riak and Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth , already sanctioned by the US, are now also subject to sanctions by all EU member states, effective immediately. The sanctions include assets freezes and a ban on travel to EU countries. Britain’s Minister for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, welcomed the sanctions and pledged UK support to ending violence in South Sudan. She said: “It is more vital than ever that those undermining the peace process recognize the price of their actions,” adding, “it is right that we are taking tough action against those who continue to act against the interests of the South Sudanese people.”
It is clear that international frustration and concern over the continued violence and humanitarian crisis is rising. The latest cease-fire, which went into effect on Dec. 24, was violated within a matter of hours. Both sides have been accused of restricting the delivery of aid to millions across the impoverished country, including an estimated 1.5 million people near famine. The six-month report of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) to the AU Assembly in Addis Ababa last month noted that about 2 million people were internally displaced while 2 million others were refugees in neighboring countries owing to the ongoing fighting in South Sudan. The U.N. secretary-general warned of the imposition of “consequences” over the ongoing fighting; the African Union has also joined the calls for further sanctions on those blocking the path to peace.
Last week, IGAD, the AU and the United Nations (UN) held a joint consultative meeting on South Sudan and reaffirmed their readiness to take all necessary actions against individuals and groups that took actions to spoil or derail the revitalization process from moving forward. They called on the Transitional Government of National Unity and all South Sudanese parties to focus on the higher goal of the national interest and securing the future of South Sudan. They also reaffirmed their belief that there can only be a political solution to the conflict in South Sudan and underlined that the parties must demonstrate the political will to negotiate a permanent ceasefire and update the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan in order to end the appalling suffering inflicted on the South Sudanese population. In opening the session of the IGAD High-level Revitalization Forum on Monday this week, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Dr. Workneh, in his capacity as the chair of IGAD’s Council of Ministers underlined the determination of the international community to see that a real and lasting agreement was reached.
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