Holdout groups sign declaration on peace process, declare to adhere to Cessation of Hostilities
Government representatives, members of the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), representatives from the SPLM/A-IO NDM, and IGAD delegation pose for a group picture after singing Declaration on the peace process in Italy under the auspices of the Community of Sant’Egidio (Photo: Unknown)
Full communiqué: Rome Declaration on the peace process in South Sudan
January 13th, 2020 (SSNN)— 1. We, the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), with representatives of SPLM/A-IO and NDM as witnesses and IGAD as observer, held the first official engagement under the auspices of the Community of Sant’Egidio in Rome, Italy on 11th and 12th January, 2020;
2. HUMBLED by the relentless spiritual and moral appeal for peace, reconciliation and fraternity by Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Former Moderator of Presbyterian Church of Scotland as well as those of the South Sudanese religious leaders for reconciliation, peace and fraternity;
3. GRATEFUL to the tireless efforts conducted by the international community, with special regard to IGAD, AU, EU, UN and the Troika Members as well as other international and regional partners, in particular China and Japan; appeal to them to continue to be actively engaged in the process;
4. THANKFUL for the decades long engagement of the Community of Sant’Egidio with our people and our country; 5. MINDFUL of the unprecedented suffering of the people of South Sudan caused by the devastating civil war and the urgent need to cease hostilities;
6. REAFFIRM their will to foster political dialogue in order to facilitate further reconciliation and stabilization by addressing the root causes of the conflict in South Sudan;
7. CONVINCED that the current conflict in the Republic of South Sudan requires a comprehensive political engagement in order to achieve inclusivity and sustainable peace with the non-signatories to the R-ARCSS. In this regard, AGREED that the dialogue shall continue under the auspices of Sant’Egidio in consultation with IGAD and with the support of regional organisations and the international community.
8. SOLEMNLY Declare to commit/recommit and adhere to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) of December 2017 to avoid any further armed confrontation across the country by the signatories and non-signatories so as to create a conducive environment for dialogue to resolve the conflict. This shall come into effect on the 15th of January 2020 00:00 hours.
9. In this regard, we request the Community of Sant’Egidio to convene a meeting with IGAD, as soon as possible, to discuss issues related to monitoring and verification;
10. RE-AFFIRM readiness to allow continued and uninterrupted humanitarian access local and to international organisations, including non-governmental organisations, to alleviate the suffering of the population, as consequence of years of conflict and natural disasters.
Done in Sant’Egidio, Rome, Italy on the 12th of January 2020
For the Government of the Republic South Sudan Barnaba Marial Benjamin – Presidential Advisor and Envoy – Head of Government Delegation
For SSOMA Thomas Cirillo Swaka, Member of the leadership Council of SSOMA and Chairman of National Salvation Front
Paul Malong Awan Anei, Member of the leadership Council of SSOMA and Chairman of South Sudan United Front/Army
Pa’gan Amum Okiech, Member of the leadership Council of SSOMA and Interim Chairman of Real-SPLM
Amanuel Yoanes Yor Akol Ajawin, Interim Secretary General of SSOMA and Chairman of NDM-PF
David Tut Kuiy, Member of SSOMA, Member of UDRM/A Vakindi Unvu,Mamber of SSOMA and Chairman of SSNMC
Witness Henry Dilah Odwar, SPLM-IO Deputy Chairman.
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