SSOMA Response to UN Secretary General Call for Immediate Global Ceasefire in Armed Conflict Countries Related to COVID-19

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Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: SSOMA Response to UN Secretary General Call for Immediate Global Ceasefire in Armed Conflict Countries Related to COVID-19
Date: 9 Apr 2020
Agreement status: Unilateral document
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: Renewal
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: South Sudan post-secession process
Parties: The Leadership Council of The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), comprising of The National Salvation Front (NAS), South Sudan United Front (SSUF), South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC), The Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (R-SPLM), National Democratic Movement Patriotic Front (NDM/PF) and the United Democratic Revolutionary Alliance (UDRA)
Third parties: -
Description: This statement responds to the UN Secretary General's call for ceasefires in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. SSOMA commits to a cease while calling for humanitarian assistance and access.

Agreement document: SS_200409_SSOMAs Response to the of UN SG on COVID-19 Ceasefire Request.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 1
In response to this situation, The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) hereby resolves and affirms the following:
...
2. That as South Sudanese citizens and members of a shared global community, SSOMA shall, during the period of COVID-19 pandemic, partnering with relevant bodies to facilitate humanitarian access to our populations by humanitarian agencies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)and the World Health Organization (WHO) to allow for their work of dissemination of basic health
awareness and practices that can prevent the spread of corona virus in South Sudan;
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 1
In response to this situation, The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) hereby resolves and affirms the following:
...
2. That as South Sudanese citizens and members of a shared global community, SSOMA shall, during the period of COVID-19 pandemic, partnering with relevant bodies to facilitate humanitarian access to our populations by humanitarian agencies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to allow for their work of dissemination of basic health awareness and practices that can prevent the spread of corona virus in South Sudan;
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 1
In response to this situation, The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) hereby resolves and affirms the following:
...
2. That as South Sudanese citizens and members of a shared global community, SSOMA shall, during the period of COVID-19 pandemic, partnering with relevant bodies to facilitate humanitarian access to our populations by humanitarian agencies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to allow for their work of dissemination of basic health awareness and practices that can prevent the spread of corona virus in South Sudan;
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
In response to this situation, The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) hereby resolves and affirms the following:
1. SSOMA has already committed/recommitted itself to cessation of hostilities agreement (COHA) of December 2017 with the Government of South Sudan in Rome, Italy on 12 January 2020. Therefore, by this act, we align with the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s call of 23rd March 2020, for an immediate global ceasefire on all hostilities in all conflicts of the world, in order to collectively fight against the Coronavirus Covid-19;
...
3. That SSOMA reserve the rights of self-defence if its positions come under attack during this period.
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
The Leadership Council of The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), comprising of The National Salvation Front (NAS), South Sudan United Front (SSUF), South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC), The Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (R-SPLM), National Democratic Movement Patriotic Front (NDM/PF) and the United Democratic Revolutionary Alliance (UDRA), takes note of
and welcomes the statement by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres of 23 March 2020, calling for global ceasefire in countries where there are armed conflict in order to fight coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Page 1
In response to this situation, The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) hereby resolves and affirms the following:
1. SSOMA has already committed/recommitted itself to cessation of hostilities agreement (COHA) of December 2017 with the Government of South Sudan in Rome, Italy on 12 January 2020. Therefore, by this act, we align with the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s call of 23rd March 2020, for an immediate global ceasefire on all hostilities in all conflicts of the world, in order to collectively fight against the Coronavirus Covid-19;
2. That as South Sudanese citizens and members of a shared global community, SSOMA shall, during the period of COVID-19 pandemic, partnering with relevant bodies to facilitate humanitarian access to our populations by humanitarian agencies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)and the World Health Organization (WHO) to allow for their work of dissemination of basic health
awareness and practices that can prevent the spread of corona virus in South Sudan;
3. That SSOMA reserve the rights of self-defence if its positions come under attack during this period.
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: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Available for download at: https://www.nassouthsudan.com/download/20200409-ssomas-response-to-the-of-un-sg-on-covid-19-ceasefire-request/ (Accessed 16 June 2020).

SOUTH SUDAN OPPOSITION MOVEMENTS ALLIANCE (SSOMA)

“Launching the New Vision of Hope & Transformation in South Sudan”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:

9th April 2020

SSOMA Response to UN Secretary General Call for Immediate Global Ceasefire in Armed

Conflict Countries Related to COVID-19

The Leadership Council of The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), comprising of The National Salvation Front (NAS), South Sudan United Front (SSUF), South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC), The Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (R-SPLM), National Democratic Movement Patriotic Front (NDM/PF) and the United Democratic Revolutionary Alliance (UDRA), takes note of and welcomes the statement by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres of 23 March 2020, calling for global ceasefire in countries where there are armed conflict in order to fight coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

SSOMA noted the declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) that Covid-19 is a global pandemic affecting almost all countries across the globe.

SSOMA has been monitoring the devastating effects of the pandemic on global Population and recognizes that a period of such catastrophe calls for humanity to unite and defeat the common enemy through solidarity and a shared response by all.

SSOMA reiterates its concern for safety of the people of South Sudan at this critical moment and applauds the global efforts in response to the pandemic, including the work of humanitarian agencies and public health organizations mandated to facilitate access to medical care and humanitarian aid.

In response to this situation, The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) hereby resolves and affirms the following:

1. SSOMA has already committed/recommitted itself to cessation of hostilities agreement (COHA) of December 2017 with the Government of South Sudan in Rome, Italy on 12 January 2020.

Therefore, by this act, we align with the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s call of 23rd March 2020, for an immediate global ceasefire on all hostilities in all conflicts of the world, in order to collectively fight against the Coronavirus Covid-19;

2. That as South Sudanese citizens and members of a shared global community, SSOMA shall, during the period of COVID-19 pandemic, partnering with relevant bodies to facilitate humanitarian access to our populations by humanitarian agencies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to allow for their work of dissemination of basic health awareness and practices that can prevent the spread of corona virus in South Sudan;

3. That SSOMA reserve the rights of self-defence if its positions come under attack during this period.

Contacts:

Kwaje Lasu Dr. Sunday de John Celesio Lomunu

+1 336 575 5965 +254 795 557 414 +256 701 436 708

Email:

jointoppositionpressrelease@gmail.com