The RJMEC, in its fourth quarter report, noted little to no progress in the DDR program.

The RJMEC, in its June report, noted the continued neglect of cantonment sites by the RTGoNU and asked for more support as the cantoned combatants and cantonment sites wait for the next phase.^[1] The DDR Commission was not able to deploy field coordination officers partly related to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2] The DDR program was not initiated.

^[1] “RJMEC quarterly report to IGAD on the status of the implementation of R-ARCSS from 1^st April to 30^th  June, 2020,” Report No.7. Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, July 15, 2020.

^[2] “RJMEC quarterly report to IGAD on the status of the implementation of R-ARCSS from 1^st April to 30^th  June, 2020,” Report No.7. Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, July 15, 2020.

The SPLM/A-IO, SSPDF, and SSOA signed an agreement on February 5^th establishing 25 cantonment sites to begin the DDR Process.^[1] On May 2, 2019, the interim chair of the RJMEC stated that “my greatest concern is the delayed operationalization of the cantonment sites, despite my repeated appeal to the Parties to expedite this process. To my knowledge, as I speak, there is not a single cantonment site that is operational.”^[2] In June, the CTSAMVM began evaluating the proposed cantonment sites and noted logistical issues such as a lack of food, shelter, and medicine.^[3] The CTSAMVM report from September 5 noted that “the cantonment process remains slow.”^[4] On September 18, Special Representative David Shearer reported to the Security Council that government and opposition troops had reported to the cantonment sites and that the troops had begun to be registered.^[5] Shearer and the CTSAMVM both noted continued logistical shortfalls. President Kiir appointed the DDR commission required by the agreement in September; however, the body did not begin its work in 2019.^[6] On December 17^th, the interim chair of the RJMEC reported that “no screening, no selection and no training (of the new unified armed forces) has taken place.”^[7]

^[1] “South Sudan peace partners agree on cantonment sites,” Radio Tamazuj, archived from the original on https://web.archive.org/web/20190207205358/https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/south-sudan-peace-partners-agree-on-cantonment-sites

^[2] “Meeting of the parties to the R-ARCSS held in Addis,” Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, May 2, 2019, https://jmecsouthsudan.org/index.php/press-release/item/441-meeting-of-the-parties-to-the-r-arcss-held-in-addis

^[3] “Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) eleventh meeting,” Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, June 11, 2019.

^[4] “Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) fourteenth meeting,” Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, September 5, 2019.

^[5] “Statement of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General David Shearer Briefing to the Security Council on South Sudan,” United Nations Mission in South Sudan, September 18, 2019.

^[6] “Kiir reconstitutes DDR Commission,” Radio Tamazuj, September 12, 2019.

^[7] “Implementation of the Pre-Transitional period to improve with availability of funds,” Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, December 17, 201.

Under R-ARCSS, following disengagement and cantonment, all former combatants were to be screened for eligibility for the police, military, or other national security forces. Ineligible combatants would be referred to the demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration (DDR) process.

The JMEC’s overview report covering implementation through December 31, 2018, noted that the DDR commission had not been formed and did not mention reintegration.^[1]

^[1] “Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) seventh meeting,” Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, January 19, 2019.

Reports suggest conflict, ethnic conflict, and natural disasters have exacerbated refugee issues in South Sudan. While the UNHCR reported an estimated 763,000 South Sudanese refugees returning to the country, over 2.2 million South Sudanese refugees, of which 65% are children, are in precarious conditions in neighboring countries.^[1]

The RTGoNU has yet to address related issues of reconstruction, repatriation, resettlement, rehabilitation and reintegration.^[2]

[1] South Sudan Situation, UNHCR Global Focus. https://reporting.unhcr.org/operational/situations/south-sudan-situation , 21 March 2024.

[2] RJMEC. 2024. On The Status of Implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. Report No. 021/23 (January 2024).

Reports suggest that displacements are due to conflict, ethnic conflict, and natural disasters. According to the IOM tracking of IDPs, over 2.25 million IDPs were there in South Sudan as of December 2022. ^[1]The RTGoNU is yet to address reconstruction, repatriation, resettlement, rehabilitation and reintegration related issues.^[2]

[1] “Thousands Displaced in South Sudan Ethnic Violence, UN Reports.” Voice of America. https://www.voanews.com/a/thousands-displaced-in-south-sudan-ethnic-violence-un-reports/6896731.html, December 29, 2022; “Floods, Displacement and Violence in South Sudan.” International Crisis Group.

https://southsudan.crisisgroup.org/, October 27, 2022.

[2] RJMEC report 014/2022; 015/2022; 016/2022; 017/2023.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 148,931, or 7% of South Sudanese, have returned from abroad. According to the report, a total of 33% of refugees returned to South Sudan between 2016 and 2021. ^[1]

[1] International Organization for Migration (IOM), Jul 26 2022. DTM South Sudan — Mobility Tracking Round 12 Initial Data Release. IOM, South Sudan. https://dtm.iom.int/reports/south-sudan-mobility-tracking-round-12-initial-data-release

The United Nations reported that at the end of 2020, there were 2.2 million South Sudanese refugees and that nearly 99,816 refugees returned home in 2020.^[1]

^[1]  “South Sudan: Overivew of spontaneous refugee returns. UNHCR, January 21, 2020.

The United Nations reported that at the end of 2019, there were 2.15 million South Sudanese refugees^[1] and that nearly 70,000 refugees returned home in 2019.^[2]

^[1] “Operations Portal- South Sudan,” United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees, December 31, 2019, https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/southsudan.

^[2] “South Sudan situation,” United Nations High Commission for Refugees, January 10, 2020.

Under R-ARCSS, the parties agreed to facilitate the resettlement of refugees and provide humanitarian assistance.

The United Nations estimated that there were 2.47 million South Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries when R-ARCSS was signed.^[1] The United Nations reported 65 “access incidents” in September, referring to incidents where aid workers were blocked from providing assistance to civilians, either by force or through “bureaucratic and administrative impediments,’’ including to refugees.^[2] The UN estimated 700 refugees returned in September.^[3]

In October, the UN noted that “refugees… are beginning to return home” following the signing of R-ARCSS.^[4] The UN also reported 58 new access incidents, some of which involved refugees.^[5] The UN estimated 5,500 refugees returned in October, 2,000 returned in November, and 7,800 returned in December. ^{[6] [7] [8]} However, the UN stated that “the current conditions [are] not yet conducive for durable, safe and dignified returns.”^[9]

^[1] “Humanitarian bulletin South Sudan” United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), September 30, 2018.

^[2] “Report of the Secretary-General on South Sudan (covering the period from 2 September to 30 November 2018),” United Nations Resolution S/2018/1103, December 10, 2018.

^[3] “Overview of spontaneous refugee returns to South Sudan,” United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, February 28, 2019.

^[4] “Humanitarian bulletin South Sudan” United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), October 30, 2018.

^[5] “Report of the Secretary-General on South Sudan (covering the period from 2 September to 30 November 2018),” United Nations Resolution S/2018/1103, December 10, 2018.

^[6] “Overview of spontaneous refugee returns to South Sudan,” United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, February 28, 2019.

^[7] “Overview of spontaneous refugee returns to South Sudan,” United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, February 28, 2019.

^[8] “Overview of spontaneous refugee returns to South Sudan,” United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, February 28, 2019.

^[9] “Overview of spontaneous refugee returns to South Sudan,” United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, February 28, 2019.