R-JMEC Chief of Staff Ambassador Berhanu Kebede - courtesy

The peace monitoring body RJMEC has warned that the deteriorating security situation in the country risks derailing key benchmarks of the 2018 peace agreement, including the 2026 elections.

Presenting a report to the Transitional National Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, Berhanu Kebede, the Chief of Staff of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism (R-JMEC), said the political and security environment “continued to deteriorate significantly,” affecting the implementation of the peace deal.

Kebede pointed to the March Nasir incident as a major violation of the permanent ceasefire and a turning point in the peace process.

He said the arrests and prolonged detentions that followed have weakened trust among peace partners and placed further strain on the institutions responsible for implementing the agreement.

On governance, the RJMEC official welcomed the resumption of parliamentary sittings after a six-month recess but noted that key judicial reforms remain stalled.

He said the Judiciary Act and the reconstitution of the Judicial Service Commission are still pending.

Kebede also raised concern about preparations for the December 2026 elections.

He said bodies such as the National Elections Commission and the Political Parties Council lack adequate funding to carry out their work.

Without immediate action, he warned that holding elections as planned “may be extremely be difficult,” and urged lawmakers to press the executive to release the required resources.

On security, Kebede reported a rise in ceasefire violations across five states, involving clashes between the SSPDF and the SPLA-IO.

He said CTSAMVM has faced challenges accessing conflict areas and continues to experience problems related to SPLA-IO representation.

Kebede told lawmakers that RJMEC has stepped up engagement with national leaders, regional guarantors, and international partners as the situation worsens.

He called on the Assembly to endorse the report and urge political leaders to avoid actions that deepen mistrust.

He further appealed for the swift implementation of judicial reforms, the re-tabling of the National Security Service Act, the enactment of pending laws, the expansion of civic and political space, and the provision of sufficient funds for election and constitution-making bodies.