Armed men are seen holding rifles in a conflict zone - courtesy

The Interim Chairperson of the peace monitoring body, R-JMEC, has called on the UN Security Council to prevail on South Sudan’s peace partners to cease all hostilities and embrace a genuine, all-inclusive dialogue.

Addressing the Council’s 10,103rd meeting on Tuesday, Ambassador Major General (Rtd) George Aggrey Owinow emphasized that the parties must restore the permanent ceasefire and immediately embark on the full reunification and professionalization of security forces under a single, non-partisan command.

He told the Council, “We call on the Security Council to prevail on the Parties to the Agreement to cease all hostilities, embrace all-inclusive genuine dialogue, restore and respect the Permanent Ceasefire, and embark on the full reunification and professionalization of security forces under a single non-partisan command.”

The Ambassador warned that the political and security situation has deteriorated significantly since August 2025, placing the Revitalized Peace Agreement (R-ARCSS) in serious jeopardy.

“The political and security situation in the Republic of South Sudan has continued to deteriorate, placing the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement… in serious jeopardy,” Owinow said.

He reported that the permanent ceasefire has been severely violated since March 2025, with ongoing clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the SPLA-In-Opposition (SPLA-IO) showing no signs of stopping.

“Clashes between the SSPDF and SPLA-IO show no signs of abating,” he said. “Despite the continuous appeal for de-escalation, ceasefire, political dialogue and adherence to the provisions of the R-ARCSS, repeated actions to the contrary have seriously undermined confidence in the peace process and risk returning the country back to war.”

On the political front, the RJMEC chief highlighted the erosion of responsibility-sharing arrangements through unilateral removals of opposition representatives at both national and state levels. “Some decisions are being made within the RTGoNU without the consensus of all Agreement signatories as required by the R-ARCSS,” he said.

He specifically pointed to the continued confinement and trial of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and other SPLM/A-IO officials as a major obstacle to peace.

“Meanwhile, H.E. Dr Riek Machar Teny, First Vice President and Chairperson of the SPLM/A-IO, remains in confinement and on trial together with other SPLM/A-IO officials,” Owinow added.

With time running out, the Ambassador cautioned that a failure to address the political stalemate and commence dialogue on the conduct of elections poses a great risk to the nation.

“With time fast running out, any further deterioration of the security situation, coupled with failure by the RTGoNU to urgently address the political stalemate and commence genuine and inclusive dialogue… poses a great risk to the Peace Agreement,” he said.

He concluded by asking the UN Security Council to assist the government in finding a political solution for the First Vice President and all political detainees to ensure a peaceful end to the Transitional Period.

“We further urge the Council to assist the RTGoNU to resolve the current political and security impasse and find a political solution to the issue of the First Vice President and all political detainees to pave the way to meaningful dialogue to a peaceful end to the Transitional Period,” Owinow said.