South Sudan’s ceasefire monitoring body warned Wednesday that escalating violence, new armed opposition alliances and funding shortfalls are undermining oversight of the country’s fragile 2018 peace deal.
Maj. Gen. Teshome Anagawe Ayana, chairperson of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), said the security situation had not improved since February and the agreement remained “in real danger.”
“The last months have been marked by repeated attacks on the peace agreement,” he told a technical committee meeting in Juba.
CTSAMVM cited a March 1 attack in Abiemnhom, in the Ruweng Administrative Area, that killed civilians, destroyed homes and displaced thousands. Local officials were reported among the dead. A verification mission is planned for April.
The body also reported escalating clashes in Akobo in early March, after government forces launched an offensive to retake the town. The fighting displaced large numbers of people, with reports that up to 200,000 fled toward neighboring Ethiopia, and disrupted humanitarian operations.
“Territorial battles are not the way to resolve the conflict,” Ayana said, urging parties to use mechanisms provided under the peace deal.
The mission also raised concern over a March 6 memorandum of understanding between an SPLA-IO faction led by Oyet Nathaniel and the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo, committing the groups to closer political and military coordination.
“This alliance is not in the spirit of the peace agreement and directly contravenes its principles,” Ayana said, urging the parties to revoke it.
Funding constraints have forced CTSAMVM to scale back operations, closing three monitoring teams in January and leaving only sites in Juba, Malakal and Wau to cover expanded areas.
The body also reported access restrictions. Earlier this month, soldiers stopped a monitoring patrol about 20 kilometers from Juba, preventing it from reaching Terekeka County, in what CTSAMVM described as a breach of provisions guaranteeing freedom of movement. A planned patrol in Jonglei state was also canceled due to security risks.
CTSAMVM said it is engaging donors in Juba and Addis Ababa to mobilize financial and operational support.
Maj. Gen. Chuol Ruey of the SPLM-IO called on leaders to recommit to dialogue and urged continued donor support for monitoring operations.
“Even those who have not signed this peace agreement should embrace peace,” he said.
South Sudan’s 2018 revitalized peace agreement ended a five-year civil war that killed nearly 400,000 people and displaced millions. Despite the formation of a unity government, key reforms remain incomplete, while periodic violence and funding gaps continue to weaken its implementation.