JUBA, 09 February 2017 [Gurtong]-Speaking during the NCAC review meeting, the chairman said, “I agree with the NCAC Chairman’s statement to the JMEC plenary yesterday that the NCAC is a very critical mechanism in the implementation of the peace agreement and that the successful execution of your mandate will indeed be a cornerstone for the implementation of the Agreement”.

“As you may be aware, the work of the NCAC was frustrated in part by the initial refusal by the government of the Republic of South Sudan to accept the first appointee by IGAD to chair this committee. When Mr Gichira Kibara was appointed, we were very eager to get an approval from the TGoNU before finalizing his offer, and even though it took time, we are now happy that he is finally here and enthusiastic to take up this important assignment”, he said in part.

He commended the honourable members present at the meeting for the great deal of work that they have already undertaken under the stewardship of the former deputy Chairperson Ambassador, Dr Elsadiq who has now been appointed Sudan’s deputy ambassador to New York.

‘I urge you all to summon the same spirit of dedication for peace, which you have demonstrated at the beginning by holding over 20 Committee meetings convened in similarly uncertain time.”

President Mogae said, “there is no doubt that the implementation of the peace agreement has been severely compromised by recent events, and the apparent lack of adherence by the parties to the letter and the spirit of the peace agreement, but I firmly believe that there is no alternative to peace for the people of the Republic of South Sudan”.

The one-day review meeting was attended by representatives of various Parties to the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan to the NCAC and was chaired by the new Chair Mr Gichira Kibara.