By Yiep Joseph
Government has assured that the 2018 peace agreement remains secure despite recent armed clashes in multiple states.
This reassurance comes as ceasefire violations escalate in Western Equatoria, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Upper Nile, raising concerns among civilians and peace monitors.
Addressing the media on Friday, Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth acknowledged the ongoing violations but maintained they do not derail the overall implementation of the peace deal.
In Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal, clashes between South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) have intensified, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, in Nasir, Upper Nile State, SSPDF forces have engaged in confrontations with armed youth.
The SPLA-IO has denied involvement, urging the SSPDF to halt planned deployments in the area.
The SSPDF’s official spokesperson claimed those fighting government forces are SPLA-IO members, a claim the SPLA-IO vehemently rejects.
The escalating clashes have prompted widespread concern among civil society organizations, peace monitors, and the general public, who fear the 2018 peace agreement is under threat.
Despite the concerns, Makuei emphasized the government’s commitment to the peace deal. He called for all parties to cease hostilities and engage in dialogue.
“On the issue of violation threatening the peace agreement, well, of course these are normal issues that are usually said. This is a song that the people have been singing since the time of the CPA, and we became independent.”
“So, these violations, we cannot say that this will affect the implementation of the peace or that they are threatening peace,” he reiterated.
Makuei cited that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between the Sudanese government and the SPLA was facing the same events but later resulted in South Sudan as an independent country.
“When we were implementing the CPA, there were violations, whether from the government of Sudan or from the forces here or from the SPLA. Nevertheless, we managed to reach peace up to the referendum, and the people of South Sudan conducted the election first and the referendum, and we became independent,” he said.
“So whatever is happening here cannot threaten peace; the peace will continue; the implementation will continue despite this violation, and at the end of the day, you will find that we have implemented the agreement,” he added.
The government spokesperson expressed that most agreements are not implemented completely, but important parts are dealt with to pave the way for elections.
“It is worse to mention that all the agreements, there is no agreement in this world that is implemented 100%. This is what you should know first, so whatever you evaluate the agreement, if it is implemented over 60 or 70 or 80%, it is implemented,” he said.
“This is why up to now we are independent, but there are provisions of the agreement of the CPA that are still pending up to now; they are not implemented by us. We did not say last time that you know, we are not going for a referendum if the provisions of the agreement are not implemented, so the same thing with this agreement if we can implement the most important parts,” he explained.
He urged the public to preach peace and unity while peace parties continue with implementation of the peace agreement.
citing that President Salva Kiir remains committed to peace implementation.
Last week, First Vice President Dr. Machar issued a request letter dated 27/2/2025 to meet with President Kiir to discuss the security situation in Upper Nile, Western Equatoria, and Western Bahr el Ghazal states.
The government spokesperson responded that two principals will meet soon to discuss some of the issues related to the peace agreement.