The African Union Mission in South Sudan (AUMISS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said they acknowledge the progress made by the Government and Parties to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in 2024 and emphasized that 2025 is a pivotal year to prioritize the remaining tasks necessary for the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement.
A joint communique by the three bodies extended to Radio Tamazuj on Monday said they recognize the peace achieved through the sustained ceasefire and encourage the immediate completion of the deployment of the remaining necessary unified forces as well as the broader Transitional Security Arrangements to maintain stability.
“We commend the initiation of planning, outreach, and foundational work commenced by the technical mechanisms responsible for the constitution-making and electoral processes. However, we remain concerned over delays in vital transitional tasks, which led to the decision to extend the Transition Period again this past September,” the communique reads in part. “We note the goodwill demonstrated by President Salva Kiir Mayardit in seeking the assistance of President William Ruto of Kenya on the stalled mediation with the holdout groups, leading to the Tumaini Initiative. We also commend President Kiir’s endorsement of the Inter-Party Dialogue to review the Roadmap and determine a refined approach to the overall implementation of the R-ARCSS. We urge that follow-up negotiations yield constructive consensus in both processes.
“As we move into 2025, we are encouraged by the President’s assurance that the latest extension will be the last, and persuaded further by his pledge that the country will not return to war,” the communique added.
They urged the government to seize the opportunity presented by the new extension of the Transitional Period to address its core issue of funding expeditiously.
“We urge that the extension be pursued with consensus, inclusivity, and collegiality, moving away from the business-as-usual approach on critical transitional tasks,” the communique said. “We advocate for expanded civic education and engagement with stakeholders, including political parties, civil society, media, and the broader community of South Sudan, regarding the timeline and other implementation challenges.”
They underscored that it is crucial to establish clarity at the start of the year to enable realistic plans that will allow for elections in December 2026.
“In light of the limited donor funding due to competing priorities occasioned by increasingly challenging global emergencies, the focused commitment by South Sudan to its transitional tasks cannot be over-emphasized,” the three bodies underscored. We pledge to continue our support to the people of South Sudan as we work toward tangible progress in the peace process in 2025 and credible elections in December 2026. We take this opportunity to wish all South Sudanese a peaceful and happy holiday period.”