The IGAD Council of Ministers held its 71st Extra-Ordinary Session on the 23rd April 2020 via zoom video conference, under the chairpersonship of Asma Abdalla, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Sudan to deliberate on the status of implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The meeting was attended by Mr. Gedu Andargachew, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the rest of foreign Ministries from member states. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu Negewo was also in attendance as the Executive Secretary of IGAD joined by Amb. Dr. Ismail Wais ; the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, Mr. Teferi Tadesse, Ethiopia Ambassador to South Sudan and the rest of the permanent representative of IGAD member countries to Ethiopia, South Sudan and the African Union as well as stakeholders from revitalized agreement of the conflict in South Sudan.
The 71st Extra-Ordinary Session starts by congratulating the people of South Sudan and the Parties to the R-ARCSS on the formation of the Revitalized Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) and appreciated the leadership of the Parties, most particularly President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar for the compromise reached in the formation of the R-TGoNU.
The council also Applauded the critical role played by the IGAD Heads of State and Government in helping resolve the deadlock on the number of states and their boundaries paving the way for the formation of the R-TGoNU; Acknowledged and lauded the persistence and zeal of the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan and other regional Special
Envoys in supporting the implementation of the R-ARCSS as well as the important work that agreement mechanisms and institutions are doing in particular Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) and the Ceasefire and transitional security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMVM) in monitoring the implementation of the R-ARCSS; Noted with concern delays in the completion of some important pre-transitional tasks such as the reconstitution of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA).
In this regard, the President of the Republic was urged to dissolve the incumbent Transitional National Legislative Assembly before 30th April 2020, and called upon the Parties to reconstitute the TNLA in accordance with the R-ARCSS within ten (10) Days of the dissolution of the incumbent TNLA; Also expressed concern with the impasse among the Parties in agreeing on responsibility-sharing at the State and Local Governments levels. And in light of this, the council called on the Parties to immediately resume discussions and consultations and reach on an agreement.
During the virtual meeting the President of the Republic of South Sudan was called upon the spirit of inclusivity and harmony to undertake the necessary consultations with concerned officials and organs in Accordance with the R-ARCSS or the TCSS 2011 (as amended) while making public political appointments in the future.
Furthermore, the discussion commended the Revitalized Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) for recognizing substantive alterations made to the Constitutional Amendment Bill, as submitted by the NCAC, and passed as Constitutional Amendment Act by the TNLA contravene the provisions of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.
During the revitalized peace agreement, having an inclusive leadership was the main target to achieve while implementing the agreement, accordingly the 71st extra ordinary session encouraged all Parties active in the implementation process to ensure that the 35% women representation is respected and adhered to in future nominations to various public offices.
Being Aware of the financial predicaments of the Ceasefire and transitional security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism(CTSAMVM) ,the council appealed to Member States and the international community to expeditiously provide the required financial and material support to the mechanisms to enable them to effectively discharge their respective mandates.
The council also demands R-TGoNU to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable peace in South Sudan by immediately disbursing the required funding for pending Transitional Security Arrangements related tasks.
In regard to the effort to control and prevent the this days deadly virus namely Covid-19, IGAD has Committed to redouble efforts in closely following up and providing and mobilizing the support needed to the peace process in South Sudan until the Transitional Period culminates in the holding of free and credible elections Cognizant of the serious multifaceted threats posed by the pandemic.
It is recalled South Sudan has confirmed covid-19 victims after several testing, and according to various peace conflict analyst the increasing case of the virus in the war torn nation might worsen the ongoing problematic situation. However IGAD during its 71st extraordinary session reassured its commitment to support the country.
In this regard, the Intergovernmental Authority for Development has decided to work closely with the Government of South Sudan in mobilizing the much needed material and financial support from regional and international partners to help mitigate and overcome the economic, financial and humanitarian crises that are caused by the pandemic.
Lastly, IGAD has appreciated the regional solidarity approach reflected in the IGAD Comprehensive Regional Response Strategy to address the COVID-19 pandemic developed through the directive of the IGAD Heads of State and Government. This include the call by the IGAD Heads of State and Government for Debt Cancellation for IGAD Member States to have sufficient resources to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the Desert Locust invasion and appealed to the international community to support the fight against COVID-19 by channeling financial resources IGAD emergency fund for the control and Prevention of the pandemic.
For more than year now, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the regional body mediating peace negotiations to end South Sudan’s civil war, has struggled to secure a deal in the face of deep regional divisions and the parties’ truculence.
Ethiopia, as the chairperson of the organization and other member states have dedicated envoys mediating the process and managing of the long timed fight between the government force of South Sudan and the oppositions was of the main IGAD achievement.
As achieving solidarity and peace is the main objective through creating common ground IGAD decided to remain seized of the matter for more consultation.
The Ethiopian Herald April 25/2020
