A one-day forum to enlighten members of the public on the implementation of the revitalized peace deal was on Thursday held in Juba.
The symposium was organized by the Organization for Responsive Governance (ORG) in collaboration with the South Sudan Civil Society Forum (SSCSF).
Rajab Mohandis, the Executive Director of the Organization for Responsive Governance, said the public needs to know mechanisms of implementing the transitional security arrangements.
“The purpose is to allow the public to get updates on what is happening with implementation of security arrangements, particularly the cantonments areas. Time is running so fast and we are left with about 46 days to end the pre-transitional period and hopefully commence the RTGoNU [Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity],” Mohandis said.
He added, “There is quite a lot to be done to reorganize the army in preparation for the transitional period. The work is still heavy and we do not doubt, but remain worried that the work will not be accomplished within the next six weeks”.
The civil society official pointed out that they were briefed by the Joint Defence Board (JDB) about the cantonment process. “This forum will provide accurate information so that they can disregard the rumors circulating on social media,” he stressed.
Nabie Kasi, the chairperson of the Muslim women, said the implementation of the peace agreement is facing several constraints.
“The public is seeing that there are many challenges facing the peace agreement which is worrying ordinary citizens about the formation of the unity government. In 2015, peace deal failed and in May, the formation of the transitional government was pushed to November, but many things have not been accomplished,” she said.
Kasi urged the government to train soldiers and caution them to desist from involvement in brutality, rape and looting of properties.
Last month, the parties to the peace deal resolved that at least 50% of the 83,000 necessary unified forces should be trained and deployed before the end of September.
President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar agreed earlier this month to form a transitional government by the middle of November.