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South Sudan rivals remain relative calm since 2017 peace deal

Sunday July 11 2021
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South Sudan's former Vice President Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir shake hands as they make a peace deal in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on September 12, 2018. PHOTO | AFP

By FRED OLUOCH

Since the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in December 2017, warring factions in South Sudan have made significant progress in maintaining relative peace.

The agreement has resulted in both the government side led by President Salva Kiir and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by Riek Machar, agreeing to stop attacking each other while working towards a comprehensive ceasefire.

Despite the two major signatories having separate armies, their soldiers are staying together in cantonment camps while undergoing training to join the unified national army. However, funds to keep the forces in cantonment areas remain a challenge.

Major donors, including the United States and European partners have been hesitant to fund Chapter 2, which deals with security arrangements, until the signatories to the September 2018 Peace Agreement demonstrate their commitment to maintaining peace.

Maj-Gen Charles Tai Gituai, the chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, expressed concern in his last briefing late last month about the delay in the implementation of Transitional Security Arrangements, particularly the unification of forces.

Inter-communal violence

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“There has been no graduation or redeployment for Phase One of the Necessary Unified Forces,” he said.

The two remaining challenges to South Sudan’s security situation are holdout groups that refused to sign the 2018 peace agreement and inter-communal conflicts in some parts of the country due to boundary disputes.

The National Salvation Front, led by Gen Thomas Cirillo, and South Sudan United Front/Army , led by former army chief Gen Paul Malong Awan, have been fighting the government and SPLM-IO forces in Central and Western Equatoria.

Then there is the inter-communal violence in the former Upper Nile states of Jonglei and Boma, which pits the Murle community against their Dinka and Nuer neighbours.

But there is hope that other measures to implement the peace agreement could help restore peace and reduce suspicions.

Dr Machar launched the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing in South Sudan on July 3, calling on the people to address their grievances and reconcile as a means of healing.

The commission is a major step toward meeting the requirements of Chapter V of the peace agreement, which calls for establishment of the Hybrid Court to try those who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the seven-year conflict.

The reconciliation process will allow those who lost their property to be compensated and those who are still in UN camps and refugee camps in neighbouring countries, to return to their homes.

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