Recent Juba gunfire ‘unfortunate,’ says peace monitor

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), a peace monitoring body under a 2018 peace deal in South Sudan, has expressed regret over the recent gunfire incident in Juba that led to loss of lives and disrupted the capital’s relative peace.

The gunfire, which lasted more than an hour, broke out last Thursday around 7 p.m. in the Thongpiny area, near the residence of former intelligence chief Gen. Akol Koor Kuc.

Speaking at the 8th Governors’ Forum in Juba on Wednesday, RJMEC Interim Chairperson, Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, described the event as “unfortunate” and emphasized the importance of strengthening security arrangements to prevent further violent incidents.

“RJMEC encourages dialogue for resolving disputes. In this regard, I commend the national and state officials for their ongoing peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts,” he said.

Gen. Gituai also commended the transitional government for agreeing to resume the Tumaini Peace Initiative in Nairobi, noting that it is crucial for this dialogue to remain driven by the principles of compromise, inclusivity, and reconciliation to foster enduring peace in South Sudan.

The peace monitor urged both national and state authorities to prioritize the unification and deployment of forces as part of the peace agreement’s security provisions.

While acknowledging some progress, he pointed out that the unification process had not advanced as expected. He stressed that the peace process in the country hinges on the full implementation of security arrangements, including the deployment of Phase II forces.

Gen. Gituai further urged the government to fully implement the recommendations of the Judicial Reform Committee and ensure greater participation of women in governance, as outlined in the peace agreement. He highlighted that, despite the 2018 agreement’s provisions, no woman has yet been appointed as a governor or chief administrator in South Sudan.

“There are serious concerns that the Parties to the R-ARCSS [Revitalized Agreement] have not adhered to the 35% minimum women representation threshold. Currently, no single woman holds the position of Governor or Chief Administrator in the Republic of South Sudan. RJMEC reiterates its appeal to the Parties to the R-ARCSS to adhere to the minimum women’s quota in the Executive and decision-making bodies at all levels of government,” he said.

Gen. Gituai reaffirmed RJMEC’s commitment to supporting the South Sudanese government in achieving lasting peace. However, he underscored the urgency of taking action in areas such as security sector reform, political dialogue, and the completion of transitional justice mechanisms to ensure a peaceful, free, and fair election process in 2026.

“In conclusion, the leadership of the country at the national and state levels should therefore use this Forum to reflect on the challenges that have faced the implementation of the Agreement and resulted in repeated extensions of the R-ARCSS,” he said.

“The critical question to be addressed relates to what should be done differently during the next 24 months to ensure completion of implementation of the critical pending tasks of the R-ARCSS, and creation of a conducive environment for the conduct of credible, peaceful, free, and fair democratic elections in December 2026,” he added.

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