Peace deal: JMEC notes ‘little meaningful progress’

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Peace deal: JMEC notes ‘little meaningful progress’

Ayuen Panchol | August 24, 2017 | 6:09 pmFestus Mogae [Right] and IGAD's Secretary General Mahboub Maalim, and Dr. Tedros Adhanom during the 56th Extraordinary Session of IGAD Council of Ministers in Nairobi

The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation commission says it has noted “little meaningful progress” in the implementation of the 2015 peace deal.

Festus Mogae made the remarks during a plenary meeting attended by peace partners and government officials in Juba this morning.“By now the Peace Agreement should have achieved considerable progress towards improved security and governance in this country,” Mr. Mogae stated.“From day one, however, we have had to persuade the Parties to implement each and every task in accordance with the Peace Agreement.”

Two weeks ago, a research institute said the transitional period should be extended to allow for implementation of important provisions in the 2015 peace deal.It argued that the agreement did not succeed in ending violence, restoring stability, reforming public institutions and improving the living conditions of South Sudan.

“Since July 2016, we, as JMEC, have remained profoundly shocked by the rampant hostilities across the country and the rapid deterioration of the political, security, humanitarian and economic situation in South Sudan. As a result, we are now rightly absorbed in a process to restore and revitalize the prominence of the Peace Agreement,” he added.

Recently, the UN Mission in South Sudan said the renewed fighting was impeding work of humanitarians in the Upper Nile region.The former Botswanan President also condemned the ongoing violence around Pagak.“I condemn all the violence that has occurred in and around Pagak over the past month and urge that military operations cease immediately.”