Addis Ababa, 10 November 2014 (WIC) – Following the IGAD Summit, South Sudan’s warring parties finally signed the implementation matrix agreement yesterday.
IGAD issued a statement welcoming the agreement by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and the SPLM/A (In Opposition) to the implementation matrix and a detailed timetable to implement the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.
The IGAD Special Envoys called on the parties to swiftly and earnestly take all measures to implement the agreed timetable, without delay.
IGAD’s Chief Envoy, Ambassador Seyoum, said the two sides have now agreed to a step-by-step implementation of the accord reached in January.
The detailed timetable commits the parties to specific measures including withdrawing from flash-point areas, reporting troop positions, and allowing truce-monitoring and aid agencies to operate freely.
Ambassador Seyoum said this was “a landmark in the process of implementation of the agreement and commitments pledged” by the two leaders.
He said he was “genuinely convinced that they will honor this commitment this time because the consequences are so big and they cannot afford to violate the cessation of hostilities agreement.”
The roadmap agreement, which includes an implementation matrix with attached addendums, was signed by the chief negotiators. It calls for withdrawal of all foreign forces.
These are to begin from areas where protection forces and Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (MVM) are present within seven days after the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities implementation matrix, “with a partial withdrawal completed after 30 days, and a complete withdrawal from the Republic of South Sudan upon signing of a Permanent Ceasefire Agreement.”
The foreign forces include the Uganda People’s Defense Force, the Justice and Equality Movement and elements of the Sudan People’ Liberation Army – North.
The two warring parties also agreed to reveal location and details of their forces, particularly in the greater Upper Nile region where most of the fighting has taken place.
They also agree to stop all negative propaganda against each other and provide unhindered access to humanitarian interventions and organizations, respect human rights and stop mobilizing civilians to join their forces. (MoFA)