
Today on the 22nd March 2022 the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (In-Opposition) – (SPLM-(IO)) has today written to the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) who has the oversight and ensure the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement known as the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
We already knew that the R-ARCSS was slowly implemented and there was lacking will to finalize the implementation of it. It has been delayed and terribly slow. While things have not moved forward.
The Rome Declaration of 2020 brokered an agreement, which secured a peace agreement with several opposition groups, which included SSOMA, SPLM-IO and NDM. However, since then there has been little to nothing to show for it.
We don’t know if this is the aftermath of the agreements made between the rebels of SPLM/A(IO), which signed an agreement with SPLM-IG in January 2022. This was Khartoum Peace Agreement between the SPLM-IG with the Agwelek Forces and the SPLM/A-(IO) Kit-Gwang. These was signed on the same day and ensured that the R-TGoNU and SPLM-IG had more former rebels in agreement with them. Meaning the SPLM-IG had participated and taken in the ones who was directly defying First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
Now today only about two months later the SPLM/A-IO main body and second biggest party in the R-ARCSS is suspending it’s participation the 2018 peace agreement. That is a worrying sign. There has already been skirmishes and targeted attacks. If this isn’t handled with care and with dialogue. It could soon easily turn bloody.
The SPLM-IG and President Salva Kiir Mayardit has been here before and so has Dr. Riek Machar. These has fought before and now there are even more possible hurdles as well. South Sudan has still other rebels and outfits, which causes conflict in respective states. However, these two can wage war and that’s what they have done and made their careers doing.
While we should hope for and possibly see these gentlemen talk. We have in the past seen when a stalemate and deadlock. These gentlemen order the guns and tanks onto the streets. The last civil war which lasted between 2013-2018 killed 382,000 and unknown amount of refugees. There is still ramifications from this one felt on the ground and unresolved suffering from the ones who caught in the cross-fire. Therefore, the Republic don’t need another war or a civil-war for that matter.
SPLM-IG should call and invite the leadership of SPLM/A-(IO) to talks. Just to de-escalate things and find common ground for solutions ahead. Since, this is only making things more fragile and paining the R-ARCSS. Which is already a long and prolonged process with a lot of interim and temporary mechanisms. The state needs to institutionalize itself. So, that these sorts of issues cannot risk the whole process and re-start conflict.
That’s why there is a need for sit-down and talks. Since the signal of this letter can cause real ramifications and even as slow as the R-ARCSS implementation has been going. Many of us was waiting for a letter or asking a delay or prolonging it. Because, most of us as outsiders saw it impossible to finish the time-line of R-ARCSS on time.
However, the latest move by SPLM/A-(IO) is only making the situation more dire and should be seen as a warning. The TGoNU and other R-ARCSS signatories should call this out and ensure things back to “normal” and into formal procedural terms. As this is set a precedence and worrying times ahead. We don’t know what sort of reaction SPLM-IG will have, but they should consider their next step. This is a slap in the face and an official dismissal by Dr. Riek Machar towards President Salva Kiir.
These two who knows each other and who has a long history. They should talk and iron the issues out. The time for bloodshed and war should be over. The R-ARCSS kept the peace for about 4 years. Yes, with lots of breaches and with irregular use of arms. While that is bad and caused more hurt than it should. We know the civil war will be much worse and the consequences even higher. Therefore, instead of burying the R-ARCSS and all the interim bodies, which is moving forward. There is time to reflect, talk and find solutions. Not go back to the arms and guns, which resolved things in the past.
That’s why I am firm on talks and dialogue. This is what is needed, because the guns and war only take you so far. Which in the end… only get you to have more pain and suffering on third parties. More civilians will die and more people flee into neighbouring countries. It will not generate a sustainable peace, but instead only create more hostilities. These two leaders should know that perfectly well and better than most.
Therefore, with the letter of suspending and not participating in the R-JMEC from SPLM/A-(IO) should be the sign for Kiir to talk and find ways to mend the difference. In such a manner, which ceases the uncertainty and gives relief for both parties. That is better than letting this one slide and unknowingly destroy 4 years of work and possibilities of peace. This will be all on them and they would again create war on their terms, instead of serving the population who wants and deserves peace. Peace.












