Isn’t the peace deal signed between SPLM-IG, Kitgwang, and Agwelek Factions without the full participation of the RTGoNu a contradiction?

SPLM-IG and Kitgwang group signed a peace treaty in Khartoum Wednesday in an effort to establish sustainable peace and permanent solutions.

In a publication by a popular media house in Juba seen by NCMP, among the terms of the signed peace treaty is Amnesty for the Kitgwang group, a total truce, a total halt of hostilities, cantoning their men, training, and integration into the SSPDF, and others.

Isn’t the signing of the ceasefire agreement without the full participation of the RTGoNu a violation of article 2.1.8 of the 2017 ceasefire agreement, which prohibits recruitment during the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan? This was discussed in Chapter 2: Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangement, Section 2.1.8.

The deal reached in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, between the Kitgwang SPLA-IO faction and the SPLM-IG sounds good in terms of the prevention of armed violence that claims the lives and properties of innocent civilians in the Upper Nile.

It is good that the ceasefire agreement was reached, and the next step is the genuine implementation of the Khartoum SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction and SPLM-IG. But bringing the peace deal into perspective, there are a lot of considerations that weren’t looked into.

Considering the Kitgwang Declaration can be regarded as a coup by South Sudanese rebel commander Simon Gatwech Dual on August 4, 2021, in which he replaced First Vice President Riek Machar as leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition leading to deadly rebel infighting.

The faction was, later on, joined Gen. Johnson Olony among other senior politicians at SPLM-IO. Also, the Machar faction is also a key party in the RTGoNu.

Earlier, Kitgwang delegation representative Gen. Morris Urach told the media that they had agreed on important principles that would culminate in a signing ceremony on Sunday in Khartoum, adding that the most important part of the principles is geared toward military leadership structure, setting up cantonment sites, and beginning the process of army reintegration.

“We greatly thanked Kitgwang groups and the Khartoum administration for asking the government of South Sudan to facilitate the peace process of all disputes that would bring tranquillity,” he added.

‘The term of cantonment site will be followed by force reintegration.’ We also primarily addressed military problems, and we agreed on cantonment sites, which would be determined by a committee. We can tell you that there will be no more wars as soon as we sign this peace treaty since we have had enough of war since 1946. We need peace and progress right now, not more war.”

Find the details of the agreement below: