By Kidega Livingstone
Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) has received a new chairperson to continue mandate of the body.
The incoming CTSAMVM Chairperson, Maj. Gen. Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, replaces Maj. Gen. Hailu Gonfa Eddosa, whose term elapsed this year.
Speaking during the CTSAMVM Technical Committee meeting yesterday, the outgoing chairperson, Maj. Gen. Gonfa, bid farewell, saying it was high time for his successor to take over from where he left to ensure the country achieves peace and stability.
He urged CTSAMVM members to give the new chairperson the same support they granted him for the betterment of the peace agreement.
“I want to take this opportunity to introduce the incoming CTSAMVM Chairperson, Maj. Gen. Yitayal Gelaw Bitew. We are very happy to have him at CTSAMVM and are fully confident that he will contribute positively to security mechanisms and the peace process,” he said.
“I kindly request that you accord him the same support that I have received,” Maj. G. Gonfa urged.
He believes CTSAMVM will continue to conduct its mandate of monitoring, verifying, and reporting on the progress of implementation of the R-ARCSS while diligently reporting to IGAD and RJMEC.
“We should remind ourselves that CTSAMVM Technical Committee meetings are crucial to the peace process in South Sudan,” he emphasized.
Gonfa noted that as his term has elapsed, the members of CTSAMVM should work professionally to report information that focuses on the peace process.
“I ask you all to focus on the information and reports and discuss them in a cordial and professional manner. Most importantly, come up with realistic solutions to protect the ceasefire and the people of South Sudan,” he appealed.
New Chairperson, Maj. Gen. Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, expressed his pleasure in serving with the CTSAMVM team, adding that he is going to work hand in hand to make sure that the peace process in South Sudan is achieved.
“We shall do our best, especially in the area of collaboration with all the stakeholders in the peace process, to achieve lasting peace in South Sudan,” Gelaw said.
A representative to CTSAMVM, Gen. Rabi Mujung Emmanuel, welcomed the new chairperson, saying the government of national unity is going to work closely with the body for the achievement of peace in the country.
“We shall work closely with you because the meeting is very important as we are reporting and monitoring the peace process as well as reporting it to the international communities,” he stated.
“You have to take the responsibility to make sure that peace is achieved in South Sudan.”
The mandate of the CTSAMVM is to monitor compliance by the signatory parties and armed groups, either under their control or invited to support them, with the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in September 2018.