President Salva Kiir has reconstituted a High-Level Ad Hoc Committee to accelerate the implementation of outstanding tasks in South Sudan’s 2018 peace agreement. The announcement was broadcasted on Wednesday via the state-owned SSBC.
The 31-member committee, drawn from various political parties and stakeholders, will oversee the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Veteran SPLM figure Kuol Manyang Juuk was appointed Chairperson, deputized by Lasuba Ludoru Wongo from the SPLM-IO. Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro of the National Agenda was named Secretary General.
According to the order, the committee’s responsibilities include oversight of peace deal implementation (excluding Chapter Two on transitional security arrangements), coordination of electoral preparations, stakeholder engagement, resource mobilization, and any other tasks assigned by the Presidency.
However, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), under First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, rejected the reconstitution. Spokesperson Pal Mai Deng called the move a “clear violation” of the peace agreement, alleging that some appointed members no longer represent the SPLM-IO.
“The SPLM/A-IO strongly rejects President Kiir’s Republican Order No. 17/2025,” Pal said in a statement, claiming the changes sideline key stakeholders and undermine consensus-building.
However, civil society leader Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of CEPO, welcomed the move anburged the committee to prioritize implementation and heed long-standing calls from citizens and civil society.
“My appeal to the newly appointed members is to act swiftly and inclusively. Delays in implementing security arrangements threaten national stability,” Yakani said
