The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
New York, USA | THE INDEPENDENT | The UN Security Council (UNSC) have called on the parties to the South Sudan peace agreement to publicly reaffirm their commitment to the peace agreement ahead of the November 12 deadline to form a revitalized government of national unity.
As President of the Security Council, I’ve been authorised to deliver this message on behalf of #UNSC⤵
Full implementation of all provisions of the peace agreement remains the only path that will set #SouthSudan towards the goal of peace, stability & development
🇸🇸@unmissmedia pic.twitter.com/pYaUnStNE6
— Jonathan Allen (@AmbassadorAllen) November 6, 2019
President of the Security Council Jonathan Allen made the announcement Wednesday, demanding full implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R_ARCSS),clear benchmarks, the cessation of hostilities and observation of cease fire agreements.
“Full implementation of all provisions of the peace agreement remains the only path that will set South Sudan towards the goal of peace, stability and development,” Ambassador Allen said in a statement.
He said a recent visit to Juba had found most of the provisions for formation of a new government on November 12 not in place.
The Dr Riek Machar camp welcomed the statement.
Machar’s Deputy Chief of Protocol and Public Relations Alfred Youhanis Magok said “SPLM/A.IO under Machar welcome the Statement of UNSC calling for full implementation of all key critical provisions of the R_ARCSS. We are for full implementation of all provisions of the R_ARCSS in letter and Spirit.”
Machar and Kiir are expected to respond to the statement at a planned meeting in Kampala Thursday organised by President Yoweri Museveni, but spokesman Magok warned that “SPLM/A.IO under Dr.Riek Machar will not participate in Unity government on November 12 if the Key Critical provisions are not resolved.”
Below piece was my latest argument that the UN must be careful an sincere on their decisions related to the South Sudan Agreement because they have had a hand. I strongly welcome the position of the UNSC.
The IGAD Sydrome
The same IGAD initiated the peace process for South Sudan and was highly supported by the AU, and the International Community in 2015 but the agreement was extremely violated by the President’s 12Point-Reservations, decreed 32states against the agreement yet the same IGAD purauaded Dr.Riek to go to Juba amid the fragile peace desipite Riek warning them that he was going to be slaughtered by Salva Kiir in Juba as the security arrangements was not well implemented and Kiir’s reservations remained threats to the agreement. The war erupted as anticipated in J1 on 8/7/2016 and Riek was forced out of Juba running for his life upto Congo spending 40days in the bushes. The same IGAD waited and instantly arrested Riek in South Africa and was supported by the AU and the International Community.
The same IGAD initiated Rivitalization of the Agreement (R-ARCiSS) in 2017 and was again supported by the same AU and the International Community. Peace-talks resumed and while the negotiations were ongoing the IGAD only releases Riek to just attend the negotiations but after the signing of the agreement Riek was again re-arrested, he is still in prison in Khartoum, Sudan as I write this piece. The issue of 32states was a violation of both the agreement and the constitution of South Sudan and more especially the Local Government Act2009. The IGAD instead pressing Kiir to reverse the decree of 32 states back to 10 states which are legal binding but the IGAD put a bling eye and made it a parties burden. Now, the government has solely violated the agreement provisions; the security arrangements, the number of states, the constitutional process and refused paying money for the peace implementation but the same IGAD are yet pushing Riek to go to Juba amid the fragile peace again and it is also being supported by the International Community. Yet the war is looming again as per the situation.
The International Community (UN-SC) went to Juba met the parties Riek outlined the unimplemented provisions which are threats to the implementation of the agreement and viable peace in South Sudan. However, instead acknowledging real concerns raised by Riek but the condemned him outright and insisted pressing for the timely formation of the Government on 12November.
Both Kiir and Riek since the beginning of the war in 2013 said they don’t want to work with one another again. The same torn relationship between them remains intact. The UN Envoy to South Sudan H.E.David Shaerer has been advising the region leadership and the international community to let the IGAD engage Kiir and Riek with closed face – to – face meetings to regain trust but it hasn’t been observed by the IGAD. Currently, the war is going to happen again and humanitarian castastrophe shall emerge greatly.
Now, which institution left to produce punitive measures against the IGAD. #The IGAD and its partners should really inform the people of South Sudan of what they are upto this time.
NB: the people of South Sudan have already understood the IGAD’s mission of agony and ordeal. I’m not a partisan but an independent Civil Society Activist but this time is a moment of truth.
The IGAD must hand over the South Sudan peace file to the African Union (AU) due its failure to narrow the Gap and lack of decision on curcial issues that are delaying resolution of the South Sudanese conflict.
The writer is Keluel Agook. A South Sudanese Civil Rights Activist. Had published several articles on human rights advocacy on various national and international media, Member of the Human Rights Defenders in Exile Working Group under the Defendfenders in East Africa, member of the South Sudanese Network of civil society organizations in Uganda (NOSSCOU), Executive Director of My Rights My Future Organization, formed in 2009 but left in Juba, the Secretary-General of the South Sudan Civil Society Alliance (2015-2018), member of the South Sudan Human rights forum 2015-2018, member of Assembly of the Great Lakes Civil Society Regional Forum (ICGLR) 2016 – 2018), Member of Youth United Against Tribalism Organization (2009-2018), member of South Sudan Civil Society Youth Coalition(2015-2018), member of the South Sudan Transitional Justice monthly Forum (2017-2018), member of the Universal Periodic Review working Group(2015 – present), participated in the 2015 peace talks as CSOs Lobbyist in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and acquired enormous experiences in the field of civil society since 2009 to date. He currently live in Daresalaam Tanzania and can be via email – keluelagook@gmail.com
The IGAD Sydrome
The same IGAD initiated the peace process for South Sudan and was highly supported by the AU, and the International Community in 2015 but the agreement was extremely violated by the President’s 12Point-Reservations, decreed 32states against the agreement yet the same IGAD purauaded Dr.Riek to go to Juba amid the fragile peace desipite Riek warning them that he was going to be slaughtered by Salva Kiir in Juba as the security arrangements was not well implemented and Kiir’s reservations remained threats to the agreement. The war erupted as anticipated in J1 on 8/7/2016 and Riek was forced out of Juba running for his life upto Congo spending 40days in the bushes. The same IGAD waited and instantly arrested Riek in South Africa and was supported by the AU and the International Community.
The same IGAD initiated Rivitalization of the Agreement (R-ARCiSS) in 2017 and was again supported by the same AU and the International Community. Peace-talks resumed and while the negotiations were ongoing the IGAD only releases Riek to just attend the negotiations but after the signing of the agreement Riek was again re-arrested, he is still in prison in Khartoum, Sudan as I write this piece. The issue of 32states was a violation of both the agreement and the constitution of South Sudan and more especially the Local Government Act2009. The IGAD instead pressing Kiir to reverse the decree of 32 states back to 10 states which are legal binding but the IGAD put a bling eye and made it a parties burden. Now, the government has solely violated the agreement provisions; the security arrangements, the number of states, the constitutional process and refused paying money for the peace implementation but the same IGAD are yet pushing Riek to go to Juba amid the fragile peace again and it is also being supported by the International Community. Yet the war is looming again as per the situation.
The International Community (UN-SC) went to Juba met the parties Riek outlined the unimplemented provisions which are threats to the implementation of the agreement and viable peace in South Sudan. However, instead acknowledging real concerns raised by Riek but the condemned him outright and insisted pressing for the timely formation of the Government on 12November.
Both Kiir and Riek since the beginning of the war in 2013 said they don’t want to work with one another again. The same torn relationship between them remains intact. The UN Envoy to South Sudan H.E.David Shaerer has been advising the region leadership and the international community to let the IGAD engage Kiir and Riek with closed face – to – face meetings to regain trust but it hasn’t been observed by the IGAD. Currently, the war is going to happen again and humanitarian castastrophe shall emerge greatly.
Now, which institution left to produce punitive measures against the IGAD. #The IGAD and its partners should really inform the people of South Sudan of what they are upto this time.
NB: the people of South Sudan have already understood the IGAD’s mission of agony and ordeal. I’m not a partisan but an independent Civil Society Activist but this time is a moment of truth.
The IGAD must hand over the South Sudan peace file to the African Union (AU) due its failure to narrow the Gap and lack of decision on curcial issues that are delaying resolution of the South Sudanese conflict.
The writer is Keluel Agook. A South Sudanese Civil Rights Activist. Had published several articles on human rights advocacy on various national and international media, Member of the Human Rights Defenders in Exile Working Group under the Defendfenders in East Africa, member of the South Sudanese Network of civil society organizations in Uganda (NOSSCOU), Executive Director of My Rights My Future Organization, formed in 2009 but left in Juba, the Secretary-General of the South Sudan Civil Society Alliance (2015-2018), member of the South Sudan Human rights forum 2015-2018, member of Assembly of the Great Lakes Civil Society Regional Forum (ICGLR) 2016 – 2018), Member of Youth United Against Tribalism Organization (2009-2018), member of South Sudan Civil Society Youth Coalition(2015-2018), member of the South Sudan Transitional Justice monthly Forum (2017-2018), member of the Universal Periodic Review working Group(2015 – present), participated in the 2015 peace talks as CSOs Lobbyist in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and acquired enormous experiences in the field of civil society since 2009 to date. He currently live in Daresalaam Tanzania and can be via email – keluelagook@gmail.com