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South Sudan + 5 more

Report of the Secretary-General on South Sudan (covering the period from 2 March to 1 June 2017) (S/2017/505) [EN/AR]

Attachments

I. Introduction

  1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 2327 (2016), by which the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until 15 December 2017 and requested me to report on the implementation of the mandate every 90 days. It covers political and security developments from 2 March to 1 June 2017, as well as reforms undertaken to adapt UNMISS to the situation on the ground, increase efficiency in the implementation of its mandate and enhance the safety and security of United Nations staff. It also provides a review of progress made by the parties in ceasing hostilities, returning to the path of dialogue and achieving inclusiveness within the Government and addresses the issue of adjustments to the UNMISS mandate.

II. Political and economic developments

South Sudan peace process

  1. The implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (the peace agreement) remains largely stalled, with no significant progress towards ensuring greater inclusivity in the Transitional Government of National Unity. On 15 March, President Salva Kiir announced the appointment of new ministers for the portfolios of Labour, Public Service, Human Resources Development and Agriculture and Food Security. The posts, which had become vacant following the resignation of opposition officials, were allocated to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in Opposition under First Vice-President Taban Deng Gai and allied political parties. President Kiir also appointed new Deputy Ministers of Defence and Veteran Affairs (from the pro-Taban Deng Gai SPLM/A in Opposition) and of Labour, Public Service and Human Resources Development (from SPLM in Government). Also on 15 March, the President replaced 21 members of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly linked to former First Vice-President Riek Machar with those allied to First Vice-President Taban Deng Gai.
  2. In accordance with chapter VII of the peace agreement, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission convened monthly plenary meetings on 15 March, 26 April and 24 May. At the March plenary, members of the Commission agreed to establish six technical working committees, based on the thematic chapters of the peace agreement, namely, governance, security, humanitarian assistance, economy and finance, transitional justice and constitutional affairs. The committees were tasked with assessing progress towards implementation of the peace agreement, recommending remedial actions and presenting status reports ahead of the plenary meetings of the Commission.
  3. On 31 March, the Chair of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, former President Festus Mogae, met with Riek Machar in South Africa, urging him to denounce violence, declare a unilateral ceasefire and participate in the national dialogue. Arguing that his forces were acting in self-defence, Mr. Machar called for the convening of a neutral forum for the parties to discuss ceasefire issues and to revive the peace agreement.
  4. On 13 April, the Chair of the National Constitutional Amendment Committee presented to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs a draft bill outlining amendments required to align the Transitional Constitution of 2011 with the peace agreement. In line with its mandate, the Committee started reviewing national security laws and other legislation to be amended, to ensure consistency with the peace agreement.
  5. On 25 April, President Kiir expanded to 103 members the Steering Committee of the national dialogue initiative announced on 14 December 2016, maintaining a large majority of members from SPLM in Government, SPLM/A in Opposition allied to First Vice-President Taban Deng Gai and allied political parties. New appointees also include representatives of the group of former political detainees, prominent religious leaders and nine foreign nationals, but no representatives of Mr.Machar or other opposition movements residing outside the country. On 22 May, President Kiir officially launched the national dialogue process, in the presence of President Museveni of Uganda, and swore in 60 committee members present in Juba. He also announced a unilateral ceasefire to create a conducive environment for the dialogue and facilitate humanitarian assistance, ordered security organs to stop arresting opposition elements who wished to join the dialogue and ordered a review of political prisoners. On 31 May, President Kiir appointed three women to the leadership organ of the National Dialogue Steering Committee, now comprising nine members.
  6. In joint statements dated 17 and 30 April, a new grouping of six prominent opposition entities condemned President Kiir’s plans for the national dialogue as “unilateral” and not genuinely inclusive. The signatories to the statements included the pro-Machar SPLM/A in Opposition, the former political detainees, the National Democratic Movement led by Lam Akol and the National Salvation Front/Army recently formed by former Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) Deputy Chief of General Staff for Logistics, General Thomas Cirillo Swaka. The pro-Machar SPLM/A in Opposition faction, in a statement released on 22 May, also condemned the process as a “one-sided dialogue being imposed by President Kiir and his allies”.