Ambassador Maj. Gen. (Rtd) George Aggrey Owinow, the Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) at the 4th RJMEC Extraordinary Meeting held in Juba on Tuesday October 7, 2025 - Credit: Moses Awan/Eye Radio

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has warned that South Sudan’s peace implementation has “considerably faltered,” with some gains achieved over the last seven years already being eroded amid growing political and security tensions.

Presenting RJMEC’s first quarterly report of 2026 before the Transitional National Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, interim chairperson Maj. Gen. Aggrey George Owinow said the country faces increasing risks of political fragmentation and renewed violence if urgent corrective measures are not taken.

The report covers the period between January and March 2026 and assesses the implementation status of the revitalized peace agreement across governance, security, humanitarian, economic and constitutional reforms.

RJMEC expressed concern over proposals by the transitional government to amend key provisions of the 2018 peace agreement, including attempts to delink the permanent constitution and population census from the planned December 2026 elections.

According to the report, some proposed amendments could undermine the legal foundation and supremacy of the peace agreement and weaken the oversight role of regional guarantors including IGAD and the African Union.

“Overall, the implementation of the R-ARCSS has considerably faltered, and in some cases, peace dividends achieved over the first seven years of the R-ARCSS have been eroded,” Owinow told lawmakers.

RJMEC said consultations with stakeholders revealed widespread concerns that some signatories to the peace agreement were excluded from discussions on the amendments, while others allegedly did not fully understand their implications.

The monitoring body also reported continued ceasefire violations during the quarter, saying CTSAMVM documented 133 alleged violations involving armed clashes, crimes against civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, forced displacement and occupation of civilian areas.

The highest concentration of incidents was reported in Jonglei State’s Ayod, Pigi, Nyirol and Akobo counties.

RJMEC further noted that several key security mechanisms under the peace deal have remained non-operational since March 2025, while the unification of forces has effectively stalled.

On the humanitarian situation, the report said renewed fighting in parts of the country worsened civilian suffering, particularly in Akobo where clashes led to casualties, looting of markets and aid facilities, and fresh displacement.

Despite the challenges, RJMEC maintained that the revitalized peace agreement remains the “most viable peacebuilding framework” for lasting peace and democratic transition in South Sudan.

The commission called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an inclusive political dialogue involving all signatories and stakeholders to restore confidence in the peace process.