
Maj Gen Bior Leek, a former detainee and Senior Party Representative to the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), questioned the absence of a defined schedule for implementing the prolonged transitional period on Wednesday.
In September, the parties to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) extended the transitional phase for the second time, for another two years, and postponed the election that was due for this month.
Leek, speaking at the CTSAMVM Technical Committee meeting at the Beijing Hotel in Juba, stated that the government has yet to provide a clear schedule since the prolongation was announced.
“I am perplexed; the transitional government has been prolonged, but there is no clarity, particularly regarding the timing, plan, and how we will proceed. I am unsure if we should continue with the implementation of the ARCSS or wait for Tumaini,” Leek stated.
He also expressed worry that the chairwoman of the High-Level Standing Committee for the Implementation of the Agreement had traveled to Nairobi for the Tumaini negotiations, raising the possibility that the 2018 Peace Agreement will be abandoned in favor of the Nairobi Initiative.
“I encourage the high-level committee to inform the public of the schedule for the extensions. I encourage the government to fund the security mechanism for phase two and deploy the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) since we observed the shooting in Juba,” he said.
Brig Gen Samuel Chan, the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) Party Representative to CTSAMVM, has urged for the quick deployment of the NUF to solve security concerns.
“There is a need for the full deployment of united troops, which is a critical benchmark in handling security concerns. The basic goal of every nation is to achieve national security, hence a strategic program is required to fulfill the R-TGoNU’s mission. The deployment
Chan also condemned the National Salvation Front (NAS), commanded by Gen Thomas Cirillo, calling the organization terrorists.
“The NAS operations in Central and Western Equatoria State constitute terrorism. “To the best of my knowledge, terrorists are those who use violence, intimidation, or threats to public safety to achieve political and ideological goals,” he stated.
“The act of kidnapping citizens, particularly on the Yei-Lasu Road and in some regions of Western Equatoria State, and bombing public transit along the Juba-Mundri Road constitutes terrorism. I urge the NAS to recommit to the 2017 cessation of hostilities accord as well as the 2020 Rome Declarations. “NAS should take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the Tumaini Initiative,” he said.
The NAS spokesperson
No one could be reached for comment immediately.