


South Sudan: President Salva Kiir Mayardit – Remarks at the Launch of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) – (05.04.2022)











“The peace parties have reached an agreement on the Command structure of the forces. The parties have signed a road map to chart a way forward for the implementation of security arrangements of the Revitalised peace Agreement” (Government of South Sudan, 03.04.2022).
“Parties reach agreement on unified force command: Parties to R-ARCSS have agreed on command of unified forces mediated by Sudan govt current chair of IGAD. According to the deal President Kiir to make decree within a week to appoint new command members of all forces” (Juba Daily News, 03.04.2022).
“SPLM-IG and Opposition (SPLM/A-IO and SSOA) agree to 60:40 allocation in unified military command structure following mediation by Sudan” (Radio Miraya, 03.04.2022).
After rising tensions and the SPLM/A-IO suspended participation in the R-JMEC and CTSAMM Technical Committee Meetings, as they felt violated by the recent actions of attacks on SPLM/A-IO bases in Upper Nile and Unity State. While there was also reports that the SPLM-IG had decree appointees without negotiations or talks with the other stakeholders.
Therefore, today is a settlement after President Salva Kiir Mayardit did that and Dr. Riek Machar removed himself from the 2018 R-ARCSS agreement. This was clearly done in a move to show seriousness and such. While it was also frightening to see that Dr. Machar’s house was sealed off and he seemed to be house-arrested too. It was not giving hope of a peace-agreement or working together.
Its good news that the parties went together to Khartoum and found common-grounds. As they have yet another agreement and deal to uphold. These have signed so many declarations, agreements and such. That they have so stipulations and articles to adhere too. While the R-ARCSS isn’t getting any closer to fulfilment and will most likely postpone beyond the due-date. Therefore, the stakeholders needs to be calm and work collectively.
The President and First Vice President haven’t won here. They have just ensure the fragile peace and that they still don’t trust each other. That’s why Dr. Machar went to ask for mediation and secured that in Khartoum. While someone was able to leak the reports of the former planned coup d’etat’s that lead to civil war in the past.
This is why the parties, the stakeholders and everyone else has to focus and find measures that they all approve off. The Presidential Decrees and one-man ordering the state cannot work. Especially, when there is so many parties involved and they all want a piece. This is man-eat-man society and also “my turn to eat” syndrome. As the longevity isn’t in the picture, but the current affairs.
While this has salvaged the R-ARCSS and possibly gotten SPLM/A-IO back to the table. There is still many hurdles ahead and it is seemingly very easy to revolt or resist participation. That should worry anyone and the gun-slingers would be easy to order to the front.
This is why today’s agreement is important, but also show the selfishness of everyone involved. They are still staking out for positions and not for building directly institutions. It is still the “mine, mine, mine” sentiment and that’s not just the opposition, but everyone. As it has to be written and ensured. In such a manner that one party has to suspend and stop the works of all bodies to ensure the R-ARCSS gets implemented. Which we for certain can say will not be on time, but will be prolonged. The agony of not having willing hands to build the state, but only self-interest is clear by the day. That’s what the stakeholders are showing the world and their own citizens too. This is what they are fighting for and willing to jeopardize a fragile peace deal for. Peace.




Just as the tensions are running high in Juba. There Declassified Report from the South Sudan Intelligence is leaked online. What it is stating is significant and speaks volume of how things are working.
Not that the report from the South Sudan was shocking. Neither was the timelines and what was in the leaked report. It was more dropping some more insights and such. That’s why I am only dropping parts of the Conclusions. As the reports itself is digestible and it’s not a hard read.
It is interesting timing of the leak and when it went online. Just as the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army – (In Opposition) (SPLM/A-IO) have ceased participation with the NTC and R-JMEC. So, the President and SPLM-IG has addressed it too. Therefore, it has to be some underlying reasons for the leak and revealing this report.
That’s why I am handling the report with caution. Since, the tensions between Kiir and Machar is escalating and they need to sit-down. There is a need to talk and settle the scores. Instead of creating space to compete on the battlefield. These two has fought in a civil war before… and we don’t need to see them order and decree a new war.
However… here is the vital parts of the conclusions of the report.
Conclusion Coup Number 1 – 2013:
“In contrast, the opposition made no attempt to return the goodwill or to progress efforts to stabilise South Sudan. At each stage of the peace negotiations, the primary goal of the opposition led by Riek Machar was to undermine the government and to overthrow President Kiir. These efforts were concretely put in motion with military assistance from foreign entities and continuous attempts to delay, stall and compromise peace efforts. Ultimately, Riek Machar’s signature of ARCSS in August 2015 was triggered only by internal factions within SPLM/A-IO and not by a genuine attempt to power share as evidenced by his own words a month before on 8 July 2015 when he declared that should President Kiir not resign then the “citizens have every right to rise up and overthrow his regime”. This imbalance of efforts was overlooked by the international community and the opposition gained significant traction as Riek Machar was provided with extensive powers as First Vice-President in 2016. Yet even then, Riek Machar was still plotting to overthrow President Kiir in furtherance of his own grand ambitions to be President of the Republic of South Sudan. This culminated in the attempted coup on 8 July 2016” (South Sudan Intelligence Report, 2022).
Conclusion Coup Number 2 – 2016:
“Following his return to Juba in April 2016, Riek Machar purported to promote peace, unity and solidarity with the government. On 8 May 2016, he called for “forgiveness and reconciliation in South Sudan”.291 On 22 May 2016, Riek Machar attended prayers at a predominantly ethnic Dinka church on Sunday, telling the congregation “that peace and reconciliation will enable national healing and ensure stability.”292 He even took on more responsibility in his role as First Vice-President and on 5 June 2016, he took charge of the file for the implementation of the September 2012 cooperation agreements between South Sudan and Sudan, with consensus from President Kiir. However, the evidence from telephone intercepted communications from the same period reveal that Riek Machar as First Vice President of the Transitional Government of National Unity plotted a coup to seize power on 8 July 2016 to fulfil his ambition to become the President of South Sudan. Whilst he was presenting a unified front for the international community, in the background he was at the same time preparing forces in support of the SPLM/A-IO to carry out the coup and used support from a foreign government, the Republic of the Sudan, to provide his forces with the necessary arms and ammunition. As the coup failed at its first attempt during his meeting with President Salva Kiir and Second Vice President James Wanni Igga in the President’s office, Riek Machar never returned to resume the reconciliation talks that had been taking place between the leaders of the TGoNU. Instead, he continued the conflict that caused great loss of life including the deaths of civilians, knowing from his experience over many years of conflicts in South Sudan and Sudan that such killings were bound to take place” (South Sudan Intelligence Report, 2022).
With all of this in mind. We just have to follow Juba and what these two decides to do. It becomes like this… when the R-ARCSS is failing. The SPLM/A-IO or SPLM-IG has to figure out their way forward. Hopefully without ordering war and sending the youth to fight their battles.
President Kiir and First Vice President Machar needs to do the right thing. There is stipulations and protocols for them to follow. They need to find the mechanisms and the forums to find the way of solving this. Because, we can worry that this become to hot and fragile. We know these two can order and fix it.
Machar can be the fall guy for the past transgressions, but we don’t know who ordered the attacks on the bases in Upper Nile and Unity State. As well, as putting Machar under house arrest. While his been asking IGAD to intervene and help out with the lack of progress. The SPLM-IG and SPLM/A-IO needs to find ways to resolve this. I am not saying that is easy and the egos have to be humbled. They need to humiliate themselves and carry possible losses. That for the betterment of the Republic and not over pitiful appointments or transgressions of late. Yes, that is painful, but these are men who can usher in peace in South Sudan.
These two men can be the first to ensure peace and stability in Juba. They can be known for finding peace and creating institutions in the Republic. That’s what they can be known for… but decreeing guns and conflict will only cause more pain and suffering. Which these two should avoid like the plague. Peace.

“South Sudan’s government has deployed security forces around First Vice President Riek Machar’s house in Juba. Government spokesperson Michael Makuei says the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and national security forces are being deployed for Machar’s own safety. A signatory to the South Sudan 2018 peace agreement says the implementation of the deal has stalled. Rajab Mohandis says the main body monitoring the deal has done very little to report recent attacks by the South Sudan army on opposition bases across the country. And, some SPLM-IO officials and supporters are calling on the brokers of the revitalized peace deal to intervene immediately, arguing that the agreement is on the verge of collapse” (South Sudan In Focus, 28.03.2022).
Things are really hot in Juba, as both parties are addressing it. SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO have both addressed the movements of the weekend. This Monday isn’t getting better and the ramifications of it is dire. As the SPLM-IG is directing blame and SPLM-IO has asked the IGAD to help to mediate. Clearly, things are going sour, as SPLM-IO has reacted to the recent appointments and purge of opposition generals. Therefore, things are not getting better.
This in combination of the attacks on SPLM-IO bases in the Unity State and Upper Nile State. That is all causing alarm. As SPLM-IO renounced their participation in the R-JMEC and the Technical Committee for implementation of the R-ARCSS.
We are seeing movement that reminds us of 2013 and 2016. The same sorts of actions by both parties. They are skirmishes and movements of troops by the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) against the SPLM/A-IO bases. These are orders by the President… who is already acted with Presidential Decree of appointing people in government without consent or dialogue with fellow signatories.
Machar has been in house-arrest before and what is happening to him isn’t anything new. It is just a new direct assault on him and his party. Therefore, no one should be shocked by this. It is a clear violation and escalation of the state. As it is targeting him and his party, which he has purged generals from in recent time.
We have to see how this goes, but the signs are not any good. Last time in 2016 he fled Juba after 48 hours and got a base of his troops within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He was later for a long time house arrested in South Africa. This is why he know the price of aiming for power and being a leader of SPLM/A-IO.
He and Kiir needs to talks and settle the grievances before they order a new civil war. Because, this is how it has started before and they not keeping Machar safe, but instead infuriating his troops and his commander. This fragile situation is only getting more torn. That’s what should frighten the President and his government. However, it seems like his thriving on it. Peace.