Attachments
Executive Summary This report covers the status of implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) during the period 1st January to 31st March 2025 and builds on similar previous Reports Nos. 001/19 - 025/24 prepared since the signing of the R-ARCSS on 12th September 2018. In addition to the status update on implementation, it highlights the activities of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) in the fulfilment of its oversight, monitoring and evaluation mandate within the R-ARCSS; and concludes by providing key recommendations on returning the country on a sustained path to peace.
During the quarter, implementation of the Agreement ground to a halt, as the Parties engaged in repeated violations and the political and security environment markedly worsened. In scenes not seen since the signing of the R-ARCSS over six years ago, armed conflict and violence erupted across the country, several high-ranking opposition members and Parliamentarians were detained and imprisoned and the First Vice President Dr Riek Machar Teny was put under house arrest. In addition, ministerial positions at the state and national levels and those within the Presidency were reshuffled, and portfolios within some Agreement institutions and mechanisms were abandoned. In some parts of the country, civilians including women and children have borne the brunt of the fallout and have suffered serious human rights and humanitarian law violations including death, injury and displacement due to military operations and connected armed clashes.
Recent political developments in the country include political appointments and replacements at the national and gubernatorial levels, including that of the Presidency, Council of Ministers, States and Administrative Areas. Some replacements, however, involved a party to the R-ARCSS replacing its own appointees, whereas in others, the replacements were drawn from different parties, in some cases, female office bearers were replaced by male appointees signalling a deviation from the responsibility sharing arrangements including the 35% minimum threshold for women agreed among the parties, pursuant to the R-ARCSS. It should be noted that the Revitalized Peace Agreement is premised on the principles of collegiality, consultation and consensus.
Security violations to the Agreement have reportedly been made by both the South Sudan Peoples Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army – In Opposition (SPLA -IO), which now threatens the peace and stability of South Sudan. In addition, there has been no progress regarding the unification and deployment of forces, which under the R-ARCSS was intended to bring the former warring parties together under one unified command. Phase I deployment has not been completed, and Phase II training has not yet started.
Following the outbreak of violence and worsening in the political environment, the RJMEC embarked on a series of diplomatic engagements aimed at seeking solutions to stem the crisis and return the country on a path to sustainable peace. This included the involvement of the IGAD Heads of State and Government, the African Union, the United Nations and key international players. Among the outcomes were the holding of an Extraordinary Summit of the IGAD Heads of State and Government, the convening of the AU Peace and Security Council, shuttle diplomacy by various regional Special Envoys to Juba, the AU Panel of the Wise and a two-day visit by H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda. Those efforts notwithstanding, the political and security situation remained largely unchanged.
South Sudan continued to face a severe humanitarian crisis, which has been further escalated by widespread violence, intercommunal clashes, land disputes, insecurity, natural disasters, cholera outbreak and cross-border movements. The widespread violence led to increased numbers of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) requiring urgent humanitarian assistance.
Concerning Economic and Financial Management, the Public Financial Management Oversight Committee, which comprises the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) and its development partners identified several priorities in their mid-term strategy. Of these nine are contained in the provisions of the R-ARCSS and the assessment focuses on the implementation of these provisions. Progress has also been made with the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which is a bank account or a set of linked bank accounts through which the government maintains its receipts and payments.
Very little progress was registered in the implementation of tasks associated with Transitional Justice, Accountability, Reconciliation and Healing. At the same time, the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) publicly launched its civic education and public consultation process on the making of a permanent Constitution.
There is no doubt that the R-ARCSS remains the most viable framework to steer South Sudan towards the path of stability and prosperity. However, the current political and security situation is fragile and highly volatile, posing a serious threat to the survivability of the R-ARCSS. The ongoing political conflicts are also eroding opportunities the extension provided to enhance the integration of gender equality perspectives into the peace process and better prepare women for meaningful participation in the transitional justice, constitution-making and political processes ahead of the anticipated elections in December 2026.
The recommendations that follow, if acted upon, including to the Parties to the Agreement, RTGoNU, Transitional National Legislature (TNL), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union, and the International Partners, are geared towards putting an end to the deteriorating security and political situation as well as to encourage a faster pace of implementation of the R-ARCSS.
a. To the Parties to the Agreement and Relevant Stakeholders:
• Cease all forms of hostility and restore adherence to the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements;
• allow CTSAMVM the opportunity to investigate, verify and report findings on alleged violations of the provisions of the permanent ceasefire;
• urgently engage in continuous dialogue at all levels, de-escalate tensions, and resolve issues in a collegial manner, embracing understanding and compromise;
• in particular, the Incumbent Transitional Government of National Unity (ITGoNU) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army - In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) are encouraged to demonstrate their commitment not to return the country to war through concrete actions and fidelity to the Agreement;
• participate fully in the various Agreement institutions and mechanisms, which are geared towards safeguarding the R-ARCSS;
• desist from actions that may escalate tensions by demonstrating leadership in guiding South Sudan towards the path of stability and prosperity; and
• adhere to the protocols of the unification of forces, dialogue on a viable way forward and embrace preparatory arrangements underway in this regard.