A/HRC/40/CRP.1 including Sudanese President al-Bashir and Ugandan President Museveni.63 By late 2018, a number of key opposition leaders had started to return to Juba including Rebecca Garang, of the SPLM Former Detainees, and Angelina Machar Teny, the head of the SPLM/A-IO’s Committee for Security and Defence.64 The next challenge will be whether South Sudan’s leaders will progressively establish and maintain the minimum trust, and common investment in the Agreement, sufficient to keep the transition on track despite inevitable future setbacks. 2. Security Situation and Implementation of R-ARCSS’s Security Provisions As peace negotiations progressed in the lead-up to the Khartoum Declaration and the R-ARCSS, there was fighting in a number of areas of the country, apparently as parties to the conflict sought to gain territory before a ceasefire and peace agreement went into effect.65 Between April and June, the SPLA undertook a major offensive through southern Unity State to clear the area of SPLA-IO (RM) forces and to open the road running from the border with Sudan down to Adok port. Although fighting had died down by late June, sporadic fighting continued to be reported in southern Unity into late August. 66 In May and June, there was also fighting in Western and Central Equatoria between the SPLA and opposition forces.67 Mid-June also saw the launch of a new SPLA offensive in Western Bahr el Ghazal in the Wau Triangle area to the south and west of Wau town, which has continued into November 2018.68 Since the signing of the R-ARCSS, there has been an overall decline in fighting across the country except in Central Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal. 69 Inter-communal violence has also continued to negatively affect the security environment in Unity, Jonglei, Warrap and Lakes States.70 In Western Bahr el Ghazal, the fighting which started in midJune in the Wau triangle area, described above, continued into at least November.71 In Central Equatoria, while there was an initial decline in fighting after the peace agreement, on 2 October 2018, a faction of SSOA that did not sign the agreement formed a new parallel alliance known as the South Sudanese Opposition Alliance - Swaka (SSOASWAKA). This new alliance includes the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Thomas Cirillo Swaka, the National Movement for Change (NMC) led by Vakindi Univuas, the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) led by Dario Hakim, the National Democratic Movement (NDM) led by Emmanuel Aban; and the United Democratic Republic Alliance (UDRA) led by Gatwech Thich.72 In mid-October 2018, the SSOA-SWAKA forces engaged in fighting with the SPLA-IO forces in Central Equatoria State which led to civilian displacement in Yei town.73 CTSAMVM continued to find ceasefire violations in Central Equatoria into December 2018.74 63 Former First Vice President Riek Machar only returned to South Sudan for one day on this occasion. Radio Tamazuj, “Rebecca Garang returns to Juba after years in exile”, 22 December 2018; Nyamilepedia, “Angelina Teny, Machar’s Wife, Arrives in Juba for the Second Time in Less than Two Months”, 20 December 2018. 65 Confidential Meeting, Juba, 5 November 2018; Confidential Meeting, Juba, 31 October 2018. 66 See below “Unity State” section (Section VII(A)). See also UNMISS/OHCHR, Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in Southern Unity April-May 2018; CTSAMM, Report 2018/22 – Violations against Civilians including SGBV, in Southern Unity State May 2018, 7 July 2018; CTSAMM, Report 2018/25 – Righting in Thonyor, Unity State 19 June 2018, 26 July 2018; CTSAMM, Report 2018/28 – Fighting at Thaker, near Leer 30 June 2018, 26 July 2018; CTSAMM, Report 2018/30 Violations against Civilians in the Gandor Area, Unity State, 17 August 2018. 67 CTSAMM, Report 2018/21 – Fighting between Parties 1-27 June 18, 27 June 2018; OHCHR/UNMISS, Violations and Abuses Against Civilians in Gbudue and Tambura States (Western Equatoria), April – August 2019, 18 October 2018. 68 See below “Western Bahr el Ghazal” section (Section VII(C)). See also Confidential Document, ERN D113942-D113947; Confidential Document, ERN D113948 - D113957; Confidential Document, ERN D114804-D114809; Confidential Document, ERN D113975-D113981. 69 CTSAMVM, Report (No.1) to RJMEC Plenary, Addis Ababa, 19 November 2018. 70 CTSAMVM, Technical Committee Meeting Minutes No. 7, 16-19 January 2019. 71 CTSAMVM, Report (No.1) to RJMEC Plenary, Addis Ababa, 19 November 2018. 72 JMEC, Progress Report No. 3 on the Implementation Status of the R-ARCSS 2018, 5 November 2018. 73 JMEC, Progress Report No. 3 on the Implementation Status of the R-ARCSS 2018, 5 November 2018; CTSAMVM, Report (No.1) to RJMEC Plenary, Addis Ababa, 19 November 2018. 74 CTSAMVM, Technical Committee Meeting Minutes No. 7, 16-19 January 2019. 64 18