A/HRC/40/CRP.1
during cessation of hostilities periods. Indeed, between 1 and 27 June 2018 alone, CTSAMM
verified 11 incidents of fighting between the parties violating the CoHA.19
2.
Second Phase of High Level Revitalization Forum
The second phase of the HLRF was conducted in Addis Ababa from 5 to 16 February
2018. It resulted in a Declaration of Principles for guiding the deliberations at the HLRF.
Although the other parties signed the Declaration of Principles, the Government declined to
sign them, expressing reservations about the provision that called for sanctions against certain
parties in the event of non-cooperation. Deliberations nevertheless continued on Chapters I
and II of the ARCSS dealing with governance and transitional security arrangements and
agreement was reached on several articles of Chapter I, including on the mandate of a
restructured TGoNU; the establishment and expansion of transitional institutions and
mechanisms; and national elections.20
Following the second phase of the HLRF, IGAD Council of Ministers undertook
shuttle diplomacy, including to former First Vice President Riek Machar in South Africa, to
try to narrow the distance between positions. The next phase of the HLRF took place from
17 to 23 May 2018 in Addis Ababa but did not yield the necessary compromises for the
parties to reach agreement on the outstanding governance and security issues. 21
3.
Khartoum Declaration, June 2018
In a new impetus for the Revitalization process, President Kiir and former First Vice
President Riek Machar met for the first time since the July 2016 breakdown of the ARCSS
on 20 June 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. IGAD decided that the peace process should
continue with a lead role by Sudan and Uganda. Accordingly, the talks moved to Khartoum,
Sudan, where former First Vice President Riek Machar was relocated from South Africa, and
met again with President Kiir on 25 June 2018. Following two days of talks between the two,
and other South Sudan opposition groups, including the South Sudan Opposition Alliance
(SSOA),22 the Former Detainees and other political Parties, they signed the Khartoum
Declaration of Agreement between the Parties to the Conflict of South Sudan on 27 June
2018.
The parties to the Khartoum Declaration agreed on a permanent ceasefire, which came
into effect on 1 July 2018 and included provisions on the disengagement and separation of
troops, opening humanitarian corridors and the release of “prisoners of war” and political
detainees. The Declaration also included provisions on transitional security arrangements and
the disarmament of civilians; the continuation of negotiations on outstanding issues in the
IGAD Bridging Proposal; the improvement of infrastructure and basic services in South
Sudan; and the rehabilitation of the oil fields in Unity State.
Following the Khartoum Declaration, President Kiir issued a Presidential decree
declaring a permanent ceasefire countrywide on 28 June 2018.23 Riek Machar, in his capacity
19
CTSAMM, Report 2018/21: Fighting between Parties from 1 to 27 June 2018, 27 June 2018. These included: SPLA-IO and
SSNMC fighting in Gogomule, Central Equatoria on or about 1 June; SPLA-IO ambush on the SPLA killing 10 and wounding
14 in Rubkuay, Unity State on 2 June; SPLA and SPLA-IO fighting near Rubkuay on 4 June; SPLA and SPLA-IO fighting in
Saura/Li Rangu in Western Equatoria on 3 to 4 June; an SPLA and SPLA-IO clash near Rubkuay in which an UNMISS patrol
was caught in the crossfire on 8 June; SPLA and SPLA-IO clashes in Baggari and Wadhalelo, Western Bahr el Ghazal on 15
June; an SPLA attack on SPLA-IO positions in Pogee, Eastern Equatoria on 17 June; an SPLA-IO attack on an SPLA
detachment in Makpandu, Western Equatoria on 17 June; and an SPLA attack on SPLA-IO positions in Saura and Nambia in
Western Equatoria on 19 June 2018.
20 JMEC, Report by H.E. Festus Gontebanye Mogae, Chairperson of JMEC on the Status of the Implementation of the Agreement on
the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan for the Period of December 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.
21 JMEC, Report by H.E. Festus Gontebanye Mogae, Chairperson of JMEC on the Status of the Implementation of the Agreement on
the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan for the Period of April 1 to June 30, 2018, p. 8.
22 The South Sudan Opposition Alliance was formed in February 2018 to provide a unified opposition voice in the peace
negotiations. It includes the FDP/SSAF, FDs, National Salvation Front (NAS), National Democratic Movement (NDM), People’s
Democratic Movement (PDM), SSLM/A, SSNMC, SSPM, SSUM/A and United Democratic Republic Alliance (UDRA). See
Charter of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, 16 February 2018,
http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/21401/The-Charter-Of-The-South-SudanOpposition-Alliance-SSOA.aspx.
23 JMEC, Report by H.E. Festus Gontebanye Mogae, Chairperson of JMEC on the Status of Implementation of the Agreement on the
Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan for the Period April 1st - June 30th 2018. See also Republican Order
13
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