This archive report was first published on 21 April 2020.
Published on April 21, 2020, a regional conflict monitoring team in South Sudan warned that the spread of Covid-19 and defections by politicians could harm the country's transition to full-time peace.
The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), created by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), said the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) could limit the ability of stakeholders to meet deadlines.
According to the JMEC, South Sudan's political leaders could harm the peace agreement by defecting between parties.
“Parties should refrain from accepting into their ranks soldiers who are defecting and changing alliances,” the JMEC said in a report.
The R-ARCSS, a peace deal signed in November 2018, aims to establish a transitional government of national unity (TGoNU) in South Sudan.
However, the TGoNU was not formed until February 22, 2020, and various disgruntled leaders have defected between groups, citing disappointment with being left out.
Mr Dak Duop Bichiok, a former SPLM-IO member, was the most recent defector, saying he did not agree with Machar's decision to nominate his wife Angelina Teny as Defence Minister.
The JMEC said South Sudan has a tight calendar to implement the R-ARCSS, which includes training and unifying forces for a national army, establishment of a transitional legislative assembly, and appointment of regional state governors.
However, delays have persisted in the reconstitution of the transitional national legislature, and the country has registered four Covid-19 cases, which could slow down the implementation of the peace deal.
