Taking a step forward in implementing South Sudan’s peace agreement, the Joint Monitoring Evaluation Commission commissioned its offices in Juba today.

The JMEC, which was established by the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, is entrusted with monitoring and overseeing all aspects of the implementation of the Agreement, including the mandate and tasks of the Transitional Government of National Unity.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, JMEC chairperson Festus Gontebanye Mogae urged the two warring parties to honour their promises and commit to the peace deal.

He also called upon the South Sudanese leaders to reconcile.

“I beg you please, please… You are facing a difficult situation of the losses you incurred but the best way to deal with it is to try to forgive, even if you cannot forget,” said Mr. Mogae, former president of Botswana.

He noted reconciliation would open the way for resuming the work and progress of developing South Sudan.

“There has to be healing,” said the JMEC chairperson. “Healing is the recognition that what happened has hurt many people from both sides…Nobody says it is easy but I am saying it can be done.”

Stressing that politicians bear the greater responsibility to work towards peace, reconciliation and healing in order for South Sudan to go ahead and realize its potential, Mr. Mogae said he was aware of the challenges ahead in implementing the peace agreement.

“I have no illusions about the challenges in front of us,” he said. “I hope the parties also have no illusions about the perils of continuing the conflict and non-implementation of the agreement.”

The JMEC chairperson said there is no easy way out of conflict, but it must occur.

“Every war must end,” he said. “I know that this is not easy but you are not alone in this task. You can achieve much better rewards for fighting this type of war, where lives are saved rather than taken, where prosperity is achieved rather than destroyed, where hope is brought rather than despair.”

He said that even though there would be inevitable difficulties, the South Sudanese people and leaders must choose the path of peace, as well as adhere to and uphold all the provisions of the agreement and the spirit in which it was created.

Earlier this week, the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, received former President Mogae in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

The JMEC Chairperson updated Dr. Zuma on the activities he has undertaken since his appointment and on initiatives he plans to take in coming days, as part of the implementation of his mandate.

Stressing that Mr. Mogae’s acceptance of the challenging assignment was an illustration of his commitment to promoting peace, security and stability in Africa, Dr. Zuma reiterated the AU’s full support in the discharge of his mandate.

She appealed to all the South Sudanese parties to implement “in full and in good faith the commitments they have entered into, including respecting the ceasefire and ending the suffering inflicted on the civilian population.”