S. Sudan peace monitor says peace deal intact amid ceasefire violations

South Sudanese peace monitor said on Wednesday that the fragile August 2015 peace deal signed between warring parties is intact and urged both parties to respect ceasefire.

The Joint Monitoring Evaluation Commission (JMEC) chairman Festus Mogae told the peace partners in the capital Juba to allow the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) access to the various cantonment areas to monitor ceasefire violations.

JMEC is a body which monitors violations of the 2015 peace agreement, while CTSAMM is established by the provision of August 2015 peace accord to monitor and evaluate ceasefire violations.

"The 2015 peace agreement which I hold here in my hand is still alive; no one party can unilaterally dissolve or renegotiate this agreement," Mogae said.

Both the SPLA-in opposition allied to ousted former First Vice President Riek Machar and Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) troops loyal to President Salva Kiir have clashed repeatedly in September and October in Bentiu, Malakal and Yei.

"From the beginning of July, we have witnessed escalating hostility that has led to near daily violations of the ceasefire and a developing conflict between SPLA-in government and SPLA-in opposition, which has slowly drawn in other armed groups," Mogae revealed.

He also condemned Machar's call for renewed armed rebellion against the government.

Mogae said there can never be military solution to end the violence in South Sudan, instead, peace will be realized through dialogue and inclusive process.

"There is no doubt that Juba is relatively calm at present but this calmness can be deceptive and the situation is volatile, as we saw last week concerning irresponsible rumors concerning the health of the president," he said. Endit