No progress observed in 2019.

Under R-ARCSS, the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) was required to review and implement the Strategic Economic Development Roadmap, stabilize public finances, Constituency Development Fund (CDF) program, implement the recommendations of the Private Sector Development Strategy (PSDS), develop Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) among rural populations and the urban poor, establish a Youth Enterprise Development Fund, establish a Women Enterprise Development Fund, establish micro-finance institutions, promote social welfare development policy, and establish Social Security Fund.

No progress observed in 2018.

All scheduled tasks were either not initiated on schedule or not completed.

All scheduled tasks were either not initiated on schedule or not completed.

All scheduled tasks were either not initiated on schedule or incomplete.

All scheduled tasks were either not initiated on schedule or not completed.

Only one additional provision mentioned in the detailed timeline was completed during the year: the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country. However, more than 50% of the remaining tasks were still outstanding.^[1]

^[1] “RJMEC quarterly report to IGAD on the status of the implementation of R-ARCSS from 1^st January to 31^st March 2019,” Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, April 08, 2019.

R-ARCSS contained a detailed implementation timeline in Annexure D. The following activities were to be completed in 2018:

Chapter I

• Nominations to various institutions including the RJMEC within two weeks
• Establishment of the National Pre-Transitional Committee (NPTC) within two weeks
• Establishment of a fund for Pre-Transition Period activities within three weeks

Chapter II

• Disengagement of forces and withdrawal of allied troops within fifteen days
• Releasing Prisoners of war immediately
• Ensuring the departure of non-South Sudanese armed groups from South Sudan within 45 days
• Completion of cantonment within thirty days
• Completion of DDR within 45 days
• Formation of the Joint Transitional Security Committee (JTSC) within fifteen days

Chapter VII

• Reconstitution of the JMEC within fifteen days

Chapter VIII

• Ratification of R-ARCSS by the Transitional National Legislature (TNL) within seven days

With respect to Chapter I issues in R-ARCSS, the nominations to most bodies were completed in 2018. The NPTC (National Pre-Transitional Committee) was established in September. The fund for the Pre-Transitional Period was established in November, as was the JTSC.

With respect to Chapter II issues, disengagement of forces, DDR, withdrawal of troops, and complete release of prisoners did not occur in 2018, as required.

With respect to Chapter VII issues, the RJMEC was formed within fifteen days, as required.

With respect to Chapter VIII issues, R-ARCSS was not ratified by the TNL within seven days as required, but it was ratified in October.^[1]

^[1]  “Progress report no. 3: On the implementation status of the R-ARCSS 2018,” Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, November 5, 2018.

After the first phase of the DDR process, which mostly involved the regrouping of SPLM-IO combatants in cantonments, the DDR process made no significant advancements. The RTGoNU has yet to validate the DDR Commission’s submitted strategy and policy documents involving DDR-related issues. The DDR Commission needs more resources to implement its program.^[1]

By the first quarter of 2023, all 55,000 combatants graduated from the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) as well as those who were disqualified from joining the NUF. As such, the number of combatants to be demobilized included those who did not qualify to join the NUF. The DDR commission has yet to manage those disqualified combatants.^[2]

[1] 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)

[2] RJMEC. 2023. On The Status of Implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. Report No. 019/23 (July 2023).

After the first phase of the DDR process, which mostly involved the regrouping of SPLM-IO combatants in cantonments, the DDR process made no significant advancements. More than a year ago, the DDR Commission submitted its strategy and policy document involving the DDR-related issues to the RTGoNU. This has yet to be solidified.^[1]

[1] On the Status of Implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (1st October to 31st December 2022). Report no. 017.