- Your Excellency Ambassador Christina Lansen, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations and President of the UN Security Council;

- Distinguished Members of the Council;

- Excellencies;

- Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

Madam President,

1. At the outset, let me begin congratulating your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month of August. 

2. May I also take this opportunity to thank this Council for inviting the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission abbreviated as (RJMEC) to address this esteemed Council on the status of implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan commonly referred to as the (R-ARCSS).

3. As you may all be aware, RJMEC is established under Chapter VII of the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan as the official oversight body responsible for monitoring, evaluating and overseeing its status of implementation. The Commission’s mandate includes, among others, submission of regular status of implementation reports to, inter alia, the United Nations Security Council every three months, followed by detailed briefings as this one.

4. My briefing today therefore, builds on my last briefing of 10th February 2026 to this Council and will therefore highlight only the recent developments and critical issues as contained in RJMEC’s latest Quarterly Report covering the period 1st April – 30th June 2026.

Madam President, Esteemed Council Members,

5. Regarding the status of implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, overall, progress has been significantly constrained by the persistent political and security challenges that has endured since March 2025, amidst a challenging humanitarian and economic environment. 

6. The aforementioned impasse, characterised by diminished inclusivity in the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), repeated violations of the permanent ceasefire and disruptions of activities of the Agreement implementation institutions and mechanisms, that has eroded trust among the Parties to the Revitalised Peace Agreement and adversely affected implementation of key provisions of the Agreement, particularly those relating to governance and security that undermined confidence in the peace process. 

7. On the country’s readiness for the 22nd December 2026 polls as announced by the National Elections Commission, barely five months away, preparations are ongoing, albeit way behind schedule. Recently, the Commission launched nationwide civic and voter education campaigns, having received some additional public funding for those activities. The Political Parties Council set 30th June 2026 as the deadline for political parties intending to participate in the 2026 elections to register and, as a result, 39 Political Parties were declared fully registered. 

8. In spite of these milestones, RJMEC observes that critical prerequisites for the conduct of credible, peaceful and inclusive elections remain uncertain, necessitating the need to urgently galvanise a political consensus through an inclusive and genuine dialogue. Urgent decisions will need to be made on key outstanding legal and political questions, modalities for expediting the completion of the unification of forces, guaranteeing civic and political space, provision of predictable and adequate logistical and financial resources to implementing institutions and mechanisms, insecurity in several parts of the country, including addressing the challenges of civilian displacement.

9. Meanwhile, the security situation in South Sudan remains fragile as sporadic clashes continue to be reported between rival forces affiliated to the Parties, especially the government’s SSPDF and the opposition’s SPLA-IO and their allies, as well as some holdout groups, in areas of Upper Nile, Jonglei, Unity and parts of Equatoria. Overall, implementation of the Permanent Ceasefire is partial and inconsistent as key security mechanisms remain non-operational. Furthermore, Phase II of the unification of forces, security sector reform and Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) processes have stalled.  

10. The humanitarian situation in the country continues to deteriorate as a result of renewed violence, internal displacement, food insecurity, restrictions on humanitarian access, population movements and inadequate basic services. These continue to negatively impact the participation of the affected populations, particularly women, youth, and persons living with disabilities in socio-political and civic processes.

11. Progress on gender provisions remains limited, with women's representation continuing to fall below the minimum 35 per cent threshold provided for in the R-ARCSS. Women’s participation and inclusion in social, political and civic processes continue to be constrained by the combined effects of unilateral replacements of female appointees with male counterparts, insecurity, displacement, humanitarian challenges, weak protection systems, structural gender inequalities and delays in the enactment of gender responsive legislation. 

12. On a positive note, some progress was recorded in public financial management reforms and economic governance. Oil production remained above 170,000 barrels per day, and measures are in place to improve transparency and oversight in oil revenue management. 

13. Progress was also made towards appointing the commissioners for the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH), however, the establishment of the Compensation and Reparation Authority (CRA) and the Hybrid Court for South Sudan (HCSS) are both still pending.

14. Further progress has been made in the permanent constitution-making process, with the National Constitutional Review Commission completing civic education and public consultations in all the ten (10) States and three (03) Administrative Areas. 

15. In response to the ongoing political and security impasse, RJMEC continues to undertake high-level engagements with the Parties to the Agreement, the Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), implementing institutions and mechanisms, regional guarantors, the African Union, IGAD, international partners and other peace stakeholders. The Commission is also working closely with the recently appointed AU High Representative to the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, H.E Jakaya Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania and regional Special Envoys to explore pathways for resolving the ongoing political and security impasse, which demands an inclusive political dialogue consistent with the recent AU C5 Plus Declaration and subsequent decisions of the African Union Peace and Security Council. 

Madam President, Esteemed Council Members,

16. In light of these developments, RJMEC wishes to make the following recommendations to this august Council:

16.1 continue supporting full implementation of the R-ARCSS as the only viable framework for lasting peace in South Sudan and encourage all the parties and stakeholders to uphold and adhere to its full implementation in letter and spirit;

16.2 support implementation of the AU C5 Plus Declaration and all previous UNSC recommendations by working closely with the African Union, IGAD, RJMEC and the Parties to facilitate an inclusive South Sudanese political dialogue; 

16.3 urge the Parties to de-escalate tensions, cease hostilities, release political detainees and the First Vice President, and to adhere to the R-ARCSS;

16.4 call upon all Parties, holdout groups and stakeholders to engage in genuine and inclusive dialogue to build consensus on the roadmap towards completion of the transition and the conduct of peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections; 

16.5 appeal to the Council members to enhance political, technical and logistical support to the electoral institutions, particularly the National Elections Commission, the Political Parties Council, and National Constitutional Review Commission to expedite the completion of their tasks before the end of the Transitional Period; and finally

16.6 strengthen support for transitional justice mechanisms, particularly the establishment and operationalisation of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing, and initiatives that advance national healing, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence. 

Madam President, Esteemed Council Members,

17. RJMEC remains concerned about the danger posed to regional and international peace with a potential collapse of the R-ARCSS and a relapse to violence in South Sudan if urgent, firm and decisive steps are not taken to unlock the status quo, and parties recommit to the Peace Agreement. 

18. In this regard, RJMEC reiterates its appeal to this esteemed Council to consider dispatching a confidence building mission to Juba to engage the Parties and all stakeholders and guide on an appropriate way forward towards a peaceful and democratic conclusion of the transitional period. 

19. RJMEC further urges the Council to remain seized with the Peace process in South Sudan at this very critical moment, that if handled well, will see South Sudan emerge from its long crisis period to a peacefully path to a sustainable and prosperous Nation. The 1st ever elections in the youngest Nation in the World on 22nd of December 2026 will be the best Christmas gift the people of South Sudan will ever have received and will ever remain grateful to the International Community.

20. Finally, RJMEC reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Parties to the R-ARCSS in accordance with its mandate and commends the UN Security Council for remaining seized of the peace process in the Republic of South Sudan.

I Thank You!