JUBA, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) in South Sudan said it supports resolution by the regional leaders to revitalize the hitherto weak peace agreement to include all aggrieved parties.
"The JMEC has welcomed the Communiqué following the 31st Extra-ordinary Summit of Heads of States of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the decision to convene a High-Level Revitalization Forum of the Parties to the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (ARCSS)," the statement said.
It added that JMEC requested the IGAD which negotiated the August 2015 peace agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to convene the forum for the parties to the peace agreement, including estranged groups.
The forum, the leaders said will discuss the restoration of the permanent ceasefire, a return to inclusive implementation, a revised realistic timeline and implementation schedule towards democratic elections at the end of the transitional period.
"Prior to this forum, invite other key opposition groups to participate without pre-conditions; demand a clear and realistic timeline for the deployment of the Regional Protection Force (RPF) to provide a neutral and secure environment for the implementation of the Peace Agreement," JMEC said.
This is despite the JMEC chairman Festus Mogae having told regional leaders at the Monday summit that the current status quo was working harmoniously to deliver peace in the youngest nation without the ousted former first vice president Riek Machar.
"There is a very good working relationship between the president, Salva Kiir, and the first vice president, Taban Deng Gai, but real progress is still lacking and the pace of the implementation of the Peace Agreement is too slow," JMEC said.
It added Mogae also demanded IGAD to act collectively and decisively speak with one voice and demand that the leaders of South Sudan end the violence and pursue a political solution and return to full implementation of the Peace Agreement.
South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Kiir and his former deputy Machar led to fighting that pitted mostly Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.
The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital forcing the rebel leader Machar to flee into exile.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 2 million from their homes, and forced more than 1.5 million to flee into neighbouring countries.
