RJMEC calls on parties to stop rampant military defections

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has warned that the defection of key military officials, primarily from the SPLA-IO to the SSPDF, has wiped out the trust between the two sides and lowered public faith in the process.

RJMEC Interim Chairperson Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai warned that the members of the peace agreement must remain committed to the implementation of the peace agreement and not be swayed by other political sideshows.

According to Gituai, time was running out, making it necessary for the peace partners to think deeply about how they would ensure a return to peace.

 “I would like to remind us that this is the last meeting before we break for Christmas and the New Year. I hope that we will return with concrete plans and renewed vigour and determination to bring durable peace, stability, and prosperity to the people and country of South Sudan, ” he concluded.

The monthly meeting of the monitoring body brings together parties to the revitalized agreement, stakeholders, and members of the international community, where the status update of the R-ARCSS is delivered and discussed. 

Last month, SPL-IO warned against the persistent defections of officials and army officers, shifting allegiance to the same parties to the agreement. The City Review spoke to Puok Baluang, the Press Secretary in the office of the First Vice President who spoke to The City Review. He described the defections and the acceptance of defectors as unfortunate, adding that they were working against the 2018 peace accord.

Referring to the defection of former lawmaker James Kok, who claimed that he had been betrayed by the SPLM-IO Chairman, Dr Riek Machar, Baluang said it made no sense and it was unfortunate to encourage defections while the agreement discourages such political manoeuvres.

 “We are concerned that this departure happened in the time of peace instead of focusing on how to implement the agreement.” It’s very unfortunate now to recruit from another side to join and defect, ” Puok protested.

“All this process is an attempt to slow down the implementation of the peace agreement, but we are committed to implementing the agreement in letter and spirit,” he said.

Another group of SPLM/A-IO members from Longechuk County, including the county commissioner and several senior army officials, defected to the SPLM earlier this month, citing bigotry as their motivation for doing so.

Maj. Gen. Khor Chuol Giet, Maj. Gen. Kang Riek Diew, and Maj. Gen. Lol Nguoth Chom were among the military officers who defected with the commissioner.

Along with other members of his community, James Kok, a member of parliament elected on the SPLM-IO platform to the reformed transitional national assembly (R-TNLA), announced his allegiance to President Kiir’s SPLM party.

The SPLA-IO Spokesperson, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, condemned the shifting of allegiance but also made sensational claims that the moves were politically-motivated and that money and cars were lined up for the defectors.

“We call it “sponsored defections” because you are promised money, you are promised a vehicle, and you are promised resources. Then, you say, “I am not getting money here or receiving anything, so what do I do?” I have to move to the other side. And, when you go that way, you are given the money and you complain that we don’t have resources, ” Lam said.