The South Sudan Opposition Movements’ Alliance (SSOMA), have after a technical workshop convened by the Community Saint’Egidio in Rome, Italy last week, joined the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) aimed at upholding the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA). 

A final communique extended by the Community Saint’Egidio to Radio Tamazuj said the technical workshop aimed to ensure that all parties have a common understanding of their obligations as signatories to the CoHA of December 2017 and the modalities of working as part of CTSAMVM. 

“The workshop was convened pursuant to the Rome Resolution of February 2020 to identify and agree on the steps necessary for the full representation of SSOMA into the CTSAMVM framework and to identify the critical timelines and tasks required to include SSOMA representatives into CTSAMVM structures,” the communique read.

According to the community Saint’Egidio, the technical workshop oriented the participants on the content of CoHA of December 2017; CTSAMVM mandate, structures, operations, and reporting mechanisms. 

The participants were also briefed on the legal framework for the inclusion of SSOMA national monitors into CSTAMVM structures, the party’s obligations for compliance with CoHA, protection of civilians, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), as well as critical CoHA requirements. 

The participants also discussed other operational challenges facing adherence to CoHA, CTSAMVM mandate, and protection of civilians, and recommended trust building amongst the parties, commitment, training, transparency, and enforcement. 

“The parties acknowledged that, in accordance with paragraph 8.1 of the Rome Resolution, the SSOMA national monitors shall be represented in CTSAMVM, and shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities accorded to CTSAMVM members in accordance with its Status of Mission Agreement (SOMA) of May 2014,” the communique said.

The workshop agreed that parties shall implement CoHA in full and in good faith, and shall ensure that its affiliates and all forces or armed groups under its command and control at all times observe the CoHA, particularly the provisions of prohibited acts.

“The parties shall prevent and ensure accountability for breaches of this Agreement. The parties agreed that, in accordance with paragraph 8.2 of the Rome Resolution, SSOMA be represented in all the CTSAMVM structures in equal numbers as the other warring parties.” According to Saint’Egidio.

“SSOMA undertakes to fully cooperate with CTSAMVM, and in furtherance of this cooperation, SSOMA hereby designates General Samuel Khamis Lankiri Lado as its contact person with CTSAMVM Secretariat,” the communique said. “The parties agree that SSOMA shall start the inclusion into the CTSAMVM structures starting from January 01, 2021, and that CTSAMVM and IGAD shall facilitate the deployment processes and the Mediation shall supervise the implementation of this workshop outcome.”

The parties agreed to disseminate the CoHA, sensitize and train all their forces or armed groups under their command and control to ensure full compliance, and undertake to hold their forces accountable for any violations.

SSOMA last week briefly suspended its participation in the workshop after it accused the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces of attacking a base of one of its members, The National Salvation Front in Lobonok.