The United States, European Union, and allied diplomatic partners have raised concerns over recent developments surrounding proposed amendments to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The group warned against any process that excludes key political actors, particularly the SPLM-IO faction led by Riek Machar.
The statement comes shortly after South Sudan’s Council of Ministers approved draft amendments to the peace agreement, which are expected to be tabled before the national parliament for deliberation in the coming days.
The proposed changes have sparked renewed debate over inclusivity, legitimacy, and adherence to the agreed peace framework.
In their joint position, the diplomatic partners emphasized that the 2018 peace agreement remains the only legitimate foundation for the country’s transitional governance and stressed that any amendments must strictly follow the procedures outlined in the accord.
They further underscored that peace agreement reforms cannot be considered credible if they exclude major signatory parties, warning that such an approach risk undermining trust in the entire political transition process.
The statement also expressed concern over perceptions surrounding the composition of the current cabinet, with critics arguing that it is largely dominated by officials aligned with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Government (SPLM-IG), led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
According to these concerns, the exclusion or marginalization of other key stakeholders could weaken the spirit of power-sharing that underpins the peace deal.
Diplomatic partners reiterated that any attempt to amend the agreement must ensure full participation of all principal parties, including SPLM-IO and other signatories, in order to preserve the integrity of the peace process.
They aligned their position with the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), which recently stressed the necessity of inclusive consultations and strict adherence to the provisions of the agreement as the only pathway to sustainable peace and stability.
The group warn that moving forward with amendments perceived as non-inclusive could heighten political tensions at a critical moment in the transitional period, where confidence-building among parties remains fragile.
The international partners urged all stakeholders to prioritize dialogue, uphold the spirit of the peace agreement, and ensure that any parliamentary deliberations on the proposed amendments reflect genuine inclusivity and consensus-building among all parties to the accord.
