Implementation of South Sudan peace deal slower than desired, offers hope: Vice president

​​​​​​​By Mevlut Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - South Sudanese Vice President Josephine Joseph Lagu said Thursday the implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement has been slower than hoped due to financial constraints, but the relative peace achieved since then offers hope to the population.

“We acknowledge the delays in implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement. However, the government has renewed its political will and is accelerating key benchmarks, including the deployment of the unified forces, electoral legislation, and launching of national civic education campaigns,” Lagu told the UN General Assembly in New York.

South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but descended into civil war two years later and has not since held a national election.

The peace deal, known as the Revitalized Peace Agreement, was reached in 2018 between President Salva Kiir and his rival Riek Machar, and was also signed by other political parties.

A unity government was formed with Kiir in 2020, with Machar serving as the first vice president alongside four others.

The implementation of the 2018 peace agreement has been slow, and recent tensions have risen following deadly clashes between the White Army, a rebel group believed to be allied with suspended First Vice President Riek Machar, who is the leader of the main opposition SPLM-IO, and the SSPDF in Nasir County, in the northeastern state of Upper Nile.

- Trial of Machar, 7 others

In March, Kiir placed Machar and his group under house arrest, following deadly clashes between the White Army rebel group and government forces in Upper Nile state.

On Sept. 11, Kiir suspended Machar and Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, the same day the justice minister charged them with multiple crimes, including treason and murder.

The trial of Machar and seven others, which began Monday, has been postponed to next week to give judges time to review objections raised by the defense and prosecution.

“This matter is now being handled legally, and it will take due process with assurance of a fair trial in a competent court. The government is committed to following due process to achieve justice in this matter,” said Lagu.

She said the arrests were not politically motivated, “but had endangered the peace process and constitutional order in the country.”

The accused have been formally charged and brought before the court, with their legal rights respected, including access to legal teams, which have been allowed to represent them in court, she added.

Lagu said the government urges the removal of targeted individual sanctions and an arms embargo, and also advocates the lifting of the measures on “other sisterly nations.”