Rome Declaration on the peace process in South Sudan

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Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Rome Declaration on the peace process in South Sudan
Date: 12 Jan 2020
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Sudan Conflicts (1955 - )
Agreements relate to several distinct dyads, and also the negotiated independence of South Sudan, and subsequent internal conflict in South Sudan. Sudan-South Sudan. The long-standing conflict between the north and the south of the country dates back to colonial times, where the British introduced a so-called ‘Southern Policy’, severely hampering population movements between these big regions. Immediately after gaining independence in 1956, southern movements started to fight for independence; this fight became professionalised in 1983 with the foundation of the soon internationally supported Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). When the Islamic Front government introduced strict sharia laws in the south after it took over power in 1988 the war intensified. A decade later, the military situation reached a stalemate, enabling internationally facilitated peace negotiations to begin in 1997. After more fighting, a final negotiation push began in 2002, leading to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Areement (CPA) in January 2005.

Sudan-South Sudan post referendum. South Sudan became independent in July 2011; since then, relations between the two countries are complicated and violent conflict led by the SPLM (North) in the Sudanese Nuba mountains region has since intensified.

Darfur. Other long-standing violent conflicts are in the east and the west of the country. In the east, the Beja Congress, established in 1957, is the spearhead of a currently ‘peaceful’ opposition movement. In the west, the violent conflict in Darfur intensified in the early 2000s and rapidly gained international attention, even resulting in genocide charges against leading figures of the Sudanese government. The situation on the ground is complex, with over a dozen organisations (most notably the Sudanese Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement) fighting the Sudanese government and allied groups like the Janjaweed – although all parties have switched sides on numerous occasions. Several mediation attempts have not been successful, due to the shaky commitment of the Sudanese central government and the distrust among the armed opposition.

South Sudan - internal
In December 2013, after president Salva Kiir accused opposition leader Riek Machar of attempting a coup, violent conflict broke out between government forces of the SPLM/A and anti-governmental groups. In addition, several other political militias as well as communal militias have joined the conflict. In 2015 the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) was signed. Due to unsuccessful implementation the agreement was revitalized in 2018. In September 2019, Kiir and Machar agreed to establish a power-sharing government after struggles on forming a unity transitional government.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: South Sudan post-secession process
Parties: For the Government of the Republic South Sudan

Barnaba Marial Benjamin - Presidential Advisor and Envoy - Head of Government Delegation

For SSOMA

Thomas Cirillo Swaka, Member of the leadership Council of SSOMA and Chairman of National Salvation Front

Paul Malong Awan Anei, Member of the leadership Council of SSOMA and Chairman of South Sudan United Front/Army

Pa'gan Amum Okiech, Member of the leadership Council of SSOMA and Interim Chairman of Real-SPLM

Amanuel Yoanes Yor Akol Ajawin, Interim Security General of SSOMA and Chairman of NDM-PF

David Tut Kuiy, Member of SSOMA, Member of UDRM/A

Vakindi Unvu, Member of SSOMA and Chairman of SSNMC
Third parties: Witness

Henry Dilah Odwar, SPLM-IO Deputy Chairman

Observer

Samuel Tessema, IGAD - South Sudan Office Representative

Facilitator

Paolo Impagliazzo, Secretary General of the Community of Sant'Egidio
Description: This declaration by armed groups in South Sudan and the Government of the Republic of South Sudan, commits the groups to a ceasefire and continuing dialogue under the auspices of the Community of Sant'Egidio and regional organisations.

Agreement document: SS_200112_Rome Declaration on the peace process in South Sudan.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: Page 2
10. RE-AFFIRM readiness to allow continued and uninterrupted humanitarian access
to local and international organisations, including non-governmental organisations, to alleviate the suffering of the population, as consequence of years of conflict and natural disasters.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: Page 2
10. RE-AFFIRM readiness to allow continued and uninterrupted humanitarian access
to local and international organisations, including non-governmental organisations, to alleviate the suffering of the population, as consequence of years of conflict and natural disasters.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Humanitarian assistance
Page 2
10. RE-AFFIRM readiness to allow continued and uninterrupted humanitarian access
to local and international organisations, including non-governmental
organisations, to alleviate the suffering of the population, as consequence of years of conflict and natural disasters.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1-2
8. SOLEMNLY declare to commit/ recommit and adhere to the Cessation of
Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) of December 2017 to avoid any further armed confrontation across the country by signatories and non-signatories so as to create a conducive environment for dialogue to resolve the conflict. This shall
come into effect on the 15th of January 2020 00:00 hours.
Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 1
5. MINDFUL of the unprecedented suffering of the people of South Sudan caused
by the devastating civil war and the urgent need to cease hostilities;
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1
1. We, the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and the South Sudan
Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), with representatives of SPLM/ A-IO
and NDM as witnesses and IGAD as observer, held the first official engagement
under the auspices of the Community of Sant'Egidio in Rome, Italy on 11th and
12th January, 2020;
...
7. CONVINCED that the current conflict in the Republic of South Sudan requires a
comprehensive political engagement in order to achieve inclusivity and sustainable peace with the non-signatories to the R-ARCSS. In this regard, AGREED that the dialogue shall continue under the auspices of Sant'Egidio in consultation with IGAD and with the support of regional organisations and the international community.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: Page 1
6. REAFFIRM their will to foster political dialogue in order to facilitate further
reconciliation and stabilization by addressing the root causes of the conflict in
South Sudan;

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: Observer

Samuel Tessema, IGAD - South Sudan Office Representative
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Community of Sant' Egidio, available at https://www.santegidio.org/downloads/Rome-Declaration-on-the-peace-process-in-South-Sudan.pdf (accessed on 24 March 2020)

Rome Declaration on the Peace Process in South Sudan

1. We, the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSO:

NIA), with representatives of SPLM/ A-IO and NDM as witnesses and IGAD as observer, held the first official engagement under the auspices of the Community of Sant'Egidio in Rome, Italy on 11th and 12th January, 2020;

2. HUMBLED by the relentless spiritual and moral appeal for peace, reconciliation and fraternity by Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Former Moderator of Presbyterian Church of Scotland as well as those of the South Sudanese religious leaders for reconciliation, peace and fraternity;

3. GRATEFUL to the tireless efforts conducted by the international community, with special regard to IGAD, AU, EU, UN and the Troika Members as well as other international and regional partners, in particular China and Japan;

appeal to them to continue to be actively engaged in the process;

4. THANKFUL for the decades long engagement of the Community of Sant'Egidio with our people and our country;

5. MINDFUL of the unprecedented suffering of the people of South Sudan caused by the devastating civil war and the urgent need to cease hostilities;

6. REAFFIRM their will to foster political dialogue in order to facilitate further reconciliation and stabilization by addressing the root causes of the conflict in South Sudan;

7. CONVINCED that the current conflict in the Republic of South Sudan requires a comprehensive political engagement in order to achieve inclusivity and sustainable peace with the non-signatories to the R-ARCSS.

In this regard, AGREED that the dialogue shall continue under the auspices of Sant'Egidio in consultation with IGAD and with the support of regional organisations and the international community.

8. SOLEMNLY declare to commit/ recommit and adhere to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) of December 2017 to avoid any further armed confrontation across the country by the signatories and non-signatories so as to create a conducive environment for dialogue to resolve the conflict.

This shall come into effect on the 15th of January 2020 00:00 hours.

9. In this regard, we request the Community of Sant'Egidio to convene a meeting with IGAD, as soon as possible, to discuss issues related to monitoring and verification;

10. RE-AFFIRM readiness to allow continued and uninterrupted humanitarian access to local and international organisations, including non-governmental organisations, to alleviate the suffering of the population, as consequence of years of conflict and natural disasters.

Done in Sant'Egidio, Rome, Italy on the 12th of January 2020

For the Government of the Republic South Sudan

Barnaba Marial Benjamin - Presidential Advisor and Envoy - Head of Government Delegation

For SSOMA

Thomas Cirillo Swaka, Member of the leadership Council of SSOMA and Chairman of National Salvation Front

Paul Malong Awan Anei, Member of the leadership Council of SSOMA and Chairman of South Sudan United Front/Army

Pa'gan Amum Okiech, Member of the leadership Council of SSOMA and Interim Chairman of Real-SPLM

Amanuel Yoanes Yor Akol Ajawin, Interim Security General of SSOMA and Chairman of NDM-PF

David Tut Kuiy, Member of SSOMA, Member of UDRM/A

Vakindi Unvu, Member of SSOMA and Chairman of SSNMC

Witness

Henry Dilah Odwar, SPLM-IO Deputy Chairman

Observer

Samuel Tessema, IGAD - South Sudan Office Representative

Facilitator

Paolo Impagliazzo, Secretary General of the Community of Sant'Egidio