October 26, 2019 (DJIBOUTI, Djibouti) The IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, H.E. Amb. Dr. Ismail Wais, Kenya Special Envoy to South Sudan, H.E. Dr. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, and the Sudan Special Envoy to South Sudan, H.E. Amb. Jamal El Sheikh, hereinafter collectively referred to as “Regional Special Envoys” met in Djibouti, the Republic of Djibouti, on 24th October 2019, to take stock of and assess the status of implementation of pre-transitional tasks under the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) of 12th September 2018.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of a peace process in South Sudan that is at a critical stage with three weeks remaining before the 12th November deadline set for the formation of the Revitalized Government of National Unity with critical and consequential pre-transitional tasks still pending.
The Regional Special Envoys were briefed by the Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, Amb. Lt. Gen. Augostino S.K. Njoroge (Rtd) on the status of implementation of pre-transitional tasks under the R-ARCSS.
Following the briefing, the Regional Special Envoys deliberated at length on critical outstanding tasks namely: transitional security arrangements, number and boundaries of states, allocation of ministerial portfolios and the issue of the South Sudanese non-signatories to the R-ARCSS.
Mindful of the delay in the implementation of the R-ARCSS, the Envoys resolved to better coordinate efforts in engaging stakeholders and mobilizing the necessary support for the peace process in South Sudan.
The Special Envoys thanked Amb. Ismail Wais for convening this timely meeting and agreed to meet on a more regular basis.