19 Jul 2016

Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) Dr Festus Mogae has appealed to African Union heads of state to urge the two South Sudan leaders to respect the cease-fire agreement.

In an interview after briefing African leaders at the IGAD Plus Summit held alongside the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of AU in Kigali on July 16, Dr Mogae expressed optimism that the AU leaders’ stronger voices including that of the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-Moon may send some message to the warring camps.

Dr Mogae who is also Botswana’s third president updated leaders on recent reports of resurgence of violence synonymous with the civil war of 2013 which gained momentum on the eve of South Sudan fifth independence anniversary recently leaving about 300 people dead and thousands displaced.

The recent attacks ensued between forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) loyal to President Salva Kiir, and the SPLA in Opposition (SPLA-IO) loyal to First Vice President, Riek Machar leaving hundreds of soldiers and people killed as well as misplacing thousands others.

He however said a number of recommendations has been made to heads of AU to the effect that in the event of the breakdown of the agreement, they should revisit the issue at heads of state level.

“I also told them that they should remind the two leaders of the commitment to the agreement they signed and that they should appoint a commission of enquiry to investigate the issues that led to the series of events that caused the fight,” he said.

Dr Mogae said after a commission of enquiry, those found directly responsible should be held accountable. 

He, however, noted that there was a team of soldier generals from other countries called the Cease Fire Transitional Authority Arrangement Monitoring Mechanism who should investigate and verify any incidents of violence in the country. ”

But they have been hindered in their functions by local authorities in South Sudan.”

“I also told heads of state that they should remind the heads of state in South Sudanese government that they are required to allow unhidden access to this international body which investigate issues on behalf of the region as a whole and the international community,” he said.

Dr Mogae further expressed concern that the situation for ordinary people was dire as there was no food in the country.

This he said was made difficult by the fact that the continued fighting made it difficult for those citizens who depended on World Food Programme to be provided with food. Dr Mogae emphasised that leaders should also take into consideration everything in their power to ensure humanitarian supplies were delivered and hold accountable those who continued with the attacks.

“You know if these decisions are taken at their level, they are likely to be implemented more than when they are taken either by us at JMEC or the council of ministers,” he said.

He noted that following the recent developments of armed confrontation in which lives were lost in South Sudan, leaders have agreed that there should be renewed IGAD intervention on recent developments which he said are a major setback in the implementation of peace agreement.

He said the leaders have also accepted the recommendations by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to act swiftly to give hope to civilians and people of South Sudan.

The third president applauded the IGAD ambassadors based in Juba, TROIKA that consists of China, United Nations, African Union, European Union and other international partners for the unwavering support to JMEC’s efforts in peace facilitation and implementation of peace agreement in South Sudan.

Dr Mogae is the chairperson of JMEC- a body mandated to oversee and monitor implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan which emanated from the 2013 civil war in the country. ENDS