Parties to the South Sudan Rome peace process have agreed to the full inclusion of Real SPLM and SSUF/A into the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism structures by the end of March 2022.
The parties also agreed to participate in a monitoring and verification training organised by CTSAMVM in the next two months.
This will allow the opposition groups to have their representatives in the various structures and levels of the talks.
This emerged on Friday during the close of a four-day workshop on the Sant’Egidio -led Rome Initiative in Nairobi.
“This is a crucial step for full compliance with the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of 2017 to protect civilians, reduce violence, guarantee free access for humanitarian organisations and create a conducive environment for the continuation of the political dialogue between the parties,” the Sant’Egidio team said.
The workshop brought together military representatives of the South Sudan government and opposition groups — Real SPLM (Sudan People's Liberation Movement), the South Sudanese Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA) and the South Sudan United Front/Army. It was convened by the Community of Sant’Egidio in cooperation with CTSAMVM and Igad.
According to the joint communiqué, the technical workshop sought to ensure that all parties have a common understanding of their obligations as signatories to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and the modalities of working as part of CTSAMVM.
The Saint'Egidio-led mediation is aimed at supporting an inclusive peace agreement in South Sudan by persuading interested parties to join the revitalised peace deal signed in September 2018.
The meeting followed the re-engagement of peace talks by President Salva Kiir in November after his withdrawal in August.
President Kiir pulled out of the Rome peace talks, saying the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance violated the cessation of hostilities agreement.
The president said the National Salvation Front led by General Thomas Cirilo attacked travellers on Juba – Nimule highway and Juba-Yei road on August 16. Two Catholic nuns were killed.
He blamed the holdout groups for the attack although no group has claimed responsibility.
President Kiir, however, resumed the talks in late November, saying he had heard voices appealing to his government to reconsider their position and give inclusive peace a chance.
“Yes because of this, the Holy Father Pope Francis has been continuing praying for South Sudan and has been appealing to me to let the peace talk resume. I am today asking the community of Saint'Egidio to begin the preparation for the resumption of Rome peace talks with holdout groups without any preconditions,” Kiir said during the 5th Governors’ Forum in Juba.
The parties in the workshop agreed there is no option to the political dialogue and that they will implement the cessation of hostilities in full and in good faith and shall ensure affiliates or forces under their command observe the agreement.
They will also prevent and ensure accountability for breaches of the agreement reached on Friday.
Responding to a question, Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) representative Mac Paul Kuol Awar said the government is committed to the peace process but said the disruptions on the talks risks compromising the timelines.
Awar said they target to conclude the peace process, and asked other parties to respect the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.
Kenya’s Foreign Affairs bilateral and political affairs director general Galma Boru commended the parties for reaching the agreement, saying it is encouraging that parties have agreed to have Real-SPLM and SSUF/A in SSOMA.
Ambassador Boru termed the agreement as a positive development in the implementation of the Rome Resolution and the Naivasha Declaration as well as the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan.
“Your agreement is a clear demonstration of commitment to silencing the guns, a key objective of the African Union, that aims to achieve a conflict-free Africa, prevent genocide and make peace a reality for all and get rid the continent of wars, violent conflicts, human rights violations and humanitarian disasters,” Boru said.
He added that Kenya is committed to continue with its support of the talks, but said there is a need for the parties to expedite and complete the remaining steps in the agreement.