Persisting problems with freedom of movement continue to make it difficult for monitors to investigate alleged violations of the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements (PCTSA). These and other challenges were reported by CTSAMM at its 4th meeting, today, in Juba.

“The continuation of hindrance of access for MVTs (Monitoring Verification Teams) is unacceptable and must stop immediately”, said General Major Molla Hailemariam, Chairperson of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism in his opening remarks.

The Chairperson could, however, also report on progress made since the last CTSAMM meeting, on 9 February: terms of reference for the institution have been adopted, reporting procedures streamlined and several more CTSAMM HQ staff and international observers have been recruited and deployed, including a South Sudanese female Gender Liaison Officer.
 
A dedicated toll free phone number and an email address which citizens can use to report possible PCTSA violations are expected to be put in place shortly, and investigation missions to Mundri, Malakal, Wau, Yambio and Nassir among other places have been undertaken and were discussed at today’s meeting.

The implementation of the PCTSA has, however, been slow, according to the Chairperson. He described it as “a concern to us all”, but added that the successful work of CTSAMM “relies on the cooperation of parties in South Sudan and the strong support of the international community”.

The lack of freedom of movement of the Monitoring and Verification Teams is one of the most serious challenges faced by CTSAMM, and General Major Hailemariam attributed this in part to another and related problem: the two parties having failed to sufficiently inform all of their respective forces on the ground about the freedom of movement that monitors should be granted.
 
“The MVTs are still requested by parties to get a permission letter from their respective highest level of authorization on a case by case basis, which hinders the access of MVTs and delays the process of investigation”, said the Chairperson.

Another impediment to the work of CTSAMM reported by General Major Hailemariam is the delay by the parties in approving cantonment sites for their respective troops. The two parties’ failure to declare the size of their troops and amounts of weaponry is another stumbling block, and so is the insufficient information availed to CTSAMM regarding the redeployment sites for government forces at least 25 km outside Juba. Without it, the Chairperson stated, verification is not possible.

Recognizing that “the road ahead is long”, Chairperson Hailemariam concluded: “The South Sudanese people are still suffering, especially the IDPs and those in the bush. Their expectations on us are high. We can’t let them down.”