Kiir, Riek asked to resolve deal violations or ask RJMEC for help

The peace monitoring body –RJMEC- has asked President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar to urgently address the political deadlock triggered by the recent violations.

Last week, Kiir dismissed Angelina Teny as minister of defense and veteran affairs and swapped the security ministries of defense and interior.

The opposition party headed up by Dr. Machar objected to the dismissal and swapping of ministries – describing it as unilateral and a violation of the revitalized peace agreement.

As a result, the peace parties planned to meet but the meeting has been postponed twice. They are expected to discuss the issued on Friday.

“We urge the Parties to observe the letter and spirit of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which is founded on collaboration, consultation, and agreement between the Parties,” said RJMEC in a statement issued on Thursday.

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) asks the parties to reach out to it should the leaders fail to break the deadlock.

“If there is a deadlock between the Parties to the Agreement, a referral can be made to RJMEC pursuant to Article 7.11 of the R-ARCSS to engage the Parties with a view to finding a compromise and / or recommending measures to break the deadlock,” the body stated.

In article 7.11 of the 2018 peace deal, the parties agreed that in the event of any deadlock, RJMEC shall propose measures to resolve the deadlocks and In case the parties fails to comply with the recommendations of the commission, it will refer the matter to the guarantors.

The peace body expressed worries that the deadlocked may affect the implementation guildelines spelled out in the roadmap.

“With less than 24 months of the extended Transitional Period remaining, it is important that this issue be resolved as soon as possible so that the Peace Agreement can continue to be implemented in a timely manner,” the statement continued.

The current political crisis between the parties erupted just eight days after the commencement of the 24-month extended transitional period of the roadmap.

The roadmap was developed to provide time-bound guidance on the implementation of outstanding provisions that are critical to the conduct of peaceful and democratic elections at the end of the transitional period.