Ceasefire – 2018
2018
The signatories declared a permanent ceasefire in the agreement from the date of signing.
The JMEC (Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission) 15-day implementation report noted fighting in Central Equatoria and Unity states in September.[1] The Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) was formed and began investigating violations.[2] Importantly, President Kiir reportedly ordered the armed forces to abide by the ceasefire in response to initial violations.[3]
The JMEC 30-day implementation report noted that the “CTSAMVM has reported a marked decline in fighting across the country except in Yei River State,” where fighting was ongoing. However, the report notes that the initiator was an alliance of non-signatory groups identified as the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SWAKA-SSOA), which attacked SPLM/A-IO (Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition) positions from October 12 to October 16.[4] However, on October 20, the National Salvation (NAS) group accused the SPLM/A-IO, the primary non-government signatory, of preparing an attack on their forces in Yei River state.[5] The JMEC 30-day report claims the NAS is part of the SSOA-SWAKA group, but did not confirm the attack by the SPLM/A-IO. The Federal Democratic Party (FDP) accused the SPLM/A-IO of attacking their positions in the Upper Nile state, which the SPLM/A-IO denied.[6] The JMEC report similarly did not confirm this attack.
The CTSAMVM report on November 28 noted four ceasefire violation reports in November: two were reported by the SPLM/A-IO and two by the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF). There were two fatalities. In one case, the SSPDF accused the SPLA/M-IO of abducting two soldiers, which the SPLA/M-IO denied but promised to investigate.[7] Two further violations were noted in the body’s December 19 report, including “widespread SGBV (sexual/gender-based violence) in Bentiu area during November.” Although the report notes “the challenge of Armed Youth linked to the SPLA-IO and SSPDF in Bentiu,” it does not identify the affiliation of the perpetrators.[8]
The December 19 CTSAMVM report contained five allegations that the ceasefire was violated, including continued SGBV in Bentiu, as well as multiple incidents between the SPLA/M-IO and the SSPDF.[9] On December 18, the CTSAMVM reported that its monitoring team in Jubek state had been attacked and illegally detained by government forces.[10]
[1] “Status of implementation of R-ARCSS 2018,” Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, September 28, 2018.
[2] “South Sudan ceasefire mechanism holds board meeting in Khartoum,” Sudan Tribune, September 28, 2018.
[3] “South Sudan’s Kiir directs to abide by ceasefire agreement,” Sudan Tribune, September 25, 2018.
[4] “Progress report no. 2: Status of implementation of the R-ARCSS 2018,” Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, October 12, 2018.
[5] “Rebel group claims South Sudan ceasefire has been violated,” Voice of America, October 20, 2018.
[6] Ibid.
[7] “CTSAMVM technical committee fifth meeting,” Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, November 28, 2018.
[8] “Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) sixth meeting,” Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, December 19, 2018.
[9] Ibid.
[10] “South Sudanese forces attack ceasefire monitors: CTSAMVM,” Sudan Tribune, December 19, 2018.