The East African bloc of nations IGAD on Monday reconstituted the internationally-backed body tasked with monitoring South Sudan's peace process.

“The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) was reconstituted at a meeting convened on Monday 19 November 2018 by H.E. Dr Ismail Wais, the IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan,” partly reads a statement issued by JMEC on Tuesday.

The IGAD Special Envoy commended the IGAD Council of Ministers for their support of the revitalized peace deal as well as the government of South Sudan and the parties for their commitment to the peace process.

JMEC Interim Chairman Ambassador Lt. Gen. Augostino Njoroge told the members of the reconstituted JMEC: “This august body is now reconstituted, made more inclusive, and bestowed with significant power and responsibility to monitor the Parties’ and stakeholders’ adherence to the implementation of the revitalized Peace Agreement. I can assert that we have the attention of the region as well as the people of South Sudan, and we must do our utmost to deliver.”

The meeting held in Addis Ababa was attended by the parties to the peace agreement and other stakeholders, comprised of faith-based leaders, eminent personalities, and representatives of women’s groups, the business community, civil society, youth, and academia. Also present were the regional guarantors and the international partners.

The reconstituted JMEC appealed to the international partners and friends of South Sudan to support implementation of the pre-transitional activities of the revitalized peace deal.

The peace monitoring body called upon the IGAD Office of the Special Envoy to ensure the immediate establishment of the Joint Defense Board, International Boundaries Commission and Technical Boundaries Committee.

The next reconstituted JMEC meeting is expected to be convened on 12 December in capital Juba.

JMEC was established under the terms of the revitalized peace agreement to oversee the implementation of the deal. The peace agreement signed by President Salva Kiir and opposition leaders in September will see the creation of a new unity government in May 2019.