The Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), on Tuesday asked the parties to the 2018 revitalized peace agreement to quickly implement pending security tasks, ahead of the 2024 general election.
“In regards, to the roadmap of the extended Transitional Period, CTSAMVM urges RTGoNU to quickly implement the remaining unimplemented tasks especially Chapter 2, which concerns the provision of security arrangements,” said Hailu Gonfa Eddosa, Chairperson of CTSAMVM during meeting of the CTSAMVM Technical Committee at Beijing Hotel in Juba.
Eddosa said the deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) is critical for addressing security issues and also is a vital prerequisite for the upcoming elections scheduled for December this year.
He disclosed that CTSAMVM is concerned with the violent clash in February, 2024 between the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) and armed youth in Nasir County of Upper Nile State, where many people died including SSPDF soldiers.
Eddosa also raised concern about the creation of the 12th army division in Rumbek town of Lakes State, saying that only SSPDF soldiers are deployed in the division.
In addition, he noted that cantonment sites and training centers are lacking vital logistical supplies such as food.
However, on a positive note Eddosa said that since 12 March 2024, CTSAMVM has not received any direct breaches of the ceasefire.
He revealed that CTSAMVM will be more reliant on joint activity with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), adding that the two sides are developing better coordination mechanisms to ensure monitoring and investigations are sustained.
“Our commitment to peace and stability in South Sudan remains unwavering. However, CTSAMVM has not witnessed additional deployments of the Necessary Unified Forces apart from the 6% out of the planned 83000 Necessary Unified Forces,” said Eddosa.
