CTSAMVM Chair Maj. Gen. Teshome Anagawe Ayana has called on all parties to return to dialogue and uphold the Permanent Ceasefire, warning that escalating violence is putting civilians at greater risk.
Speaking during the Extraordinary CTSAMVM Board Meeting in Juba, Maj. Gen. Teshome said the security landscape has deteriorated significantly since violent clashes erupted in Nasir in March 2025.
He warned that the rising instability threatens the implementation of Chapter II of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
“This constant state of violent conflict greatly impacts CTSAMVM’s ability to monitor and verify,” he told diplomats, senior officers, and representatives of peace partners.
He noted that alleged violations recorded by Monitoring and Verification Teams (MVTs) spiked sharply this year from 29% of daily reports in August to 50% in September.
Despite a slight decline in October, the overall trend, he said, shows that parties “continue to choose military action over fulfilling their commitments.”
CTSAMVM has documented a series of serious abuses in recent months, including harassment, unlawful detentions, gender-based violence, attacks on civilians, and the presence of unauthorized checkpoints along key routes in Yei, Maridi, Wau, Tambura, Renk, and Magwi.
“These restrictions and abuses undermine humanitarian access and threaten civilian safety,” the Chairperson warned.
He urged immediate action to address accountability gaps within the security structures.
He cited child recruitment, a stalled unified command, and a largely inactive Necessary Unified Force (NUF) as critical concerns.
“The people of South Sudan need one army to serve them all not many armies serving different groups,” he emphasized.
Maj. Gen. Teshome detailed major obstacles hindering verification work, including flight denials, no-fly zones, inadequate aviation assets, and weather challenges that forced the cancellation of patrols to areas like Maban, Renk, Ulang, Old Fangak, and Nasir.
Some patrols investigated grave allegations such as the bombing of an MSF hospital and military bombardments in Unity State.
He further raised alarm over severe financial constraints, noting that donor funding for 2025 fell far short of CTSAMVM’s operational requirements.
With UNMISS downscaling its presence including the closure of the Yei Field Office peace monitoring operations face even greater logistical and security pressure.
CTSAMVM has begun relocating its Yei-based team and reassessing how to maintain national coverage with limited resources.
Aligning with regional and international partners, Maj. Gen. Teshome issued a direct call to all signatories:
“Recommit to dialogue, respect the Permanent Ceasefire, and prioritize civilian safety and dignity.”
He stressed that sustainable peace requires renewed trust, restraint, cooperation, and full adherence to the principles of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
“As we deliberate today, let us approach discussions with openness and unity of purpose,” he urged the Board, officially opening the Extraordinary Meeting.
