International ceasefire monitors based in South Sudan to observe the peace agreement between the country’s rival leaders have expressed concerns that the withdrawal of US support will greatly affect the implementation of the deal.
Three weeks ago, the US pulled out of South Sudan’s peace process monitoring mechanisms.
The US government was a major donor to the process – providing aviation services and logistics.
The US State Department accuses South Sudan’s leaders of failing to meet key reform milestones of the agreement they signed in September 2018 to end five years of conflict.
The unity government in South Sudan is yet to create a unified national army of up to 83,000 troops, which was a key pillar of the peace deal.
Lt Gen Asrat Denero Ama, the Ethiopian head of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), said the withdrawal of support had “happened at a very critical stage”.
The “mechanism wanted [the support] very much – especially the lack of aviation support will greatly hamper the proper function of the CTSAMVM”, he said in Juba.
Lt Gen Asrat said sporadic armed clashes in Unity and Upper Nile states had continued to “significantly undermine” the permanent ceasefire.
The transitional period of the agreement expires in February next year – and it’s expected to culminate with a general election. But it’s not clear whether it will happen.
