Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), is actively involved in international advocacy and lobbying efforts to promote the conclusion of South Sudan’s political transitional process through democratic and peaceful means.
CEPO, a highly proactive civil society organization in South Sudan, focuses on fostering democracy and sustaining a peaceful resolution of political disputes among the country’s political elites.
In a press statement to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, CEPO said during his visits, Yakani plans to engage in discussions with United Nations officials, members of the United Nations Security Council, the South Sudan Mission to the UNSC, and representatives from international organizations. Additionally, he will hold meetings in Washington DC with U.S. government officials and collaborate with partners such as the US Institute of Peace.
Yakani highlighted that the overarching objective of these international advocacy and lobbying efforts is to address the challenges hindering the successful, peaceful, and democratic conclusion of South Sudan’s political transitional process.
He stated, “The general public is becoming increasingly frustrated with the ineffective extension of the political transitional process. The significant lack of trust and confidence among South Sudan’s political elites is a major obstacle to alleviating the suffering of the common citizens. Unfortunately, many of the political elites prioritize their personal interests over the well-being of the citizens they represent.”
Yakani emphasized, “The political elites are holding citizens hostage, subjecting them to suffering based on personal grievances, particularly the desire for control over political power to access national resources without accountability.”
He elaborated, “Now is the time to advocate and lobby for the successful, democratic, and peaceful conclusion of the political transitional process, aligning with the requirements outlined in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. This involves conducting peaceful and democratic elections.”
Yakani cautioned, “Any further extension of the political period, without an inclusive political consensus for the scheduled December 2024 elections, risks plunging the country back into violence.”
He asserted, “It is the primary responsibility of our current political leaders, both in the government and among the opposition, to come to a consensus and alleviate the citizens’ suffering through democratic processes, ensuring a peaceful and honourable transfer of power. The prevalence of human rights violations, economic pressure, and deadly politically motivated communal violence against citizens is alarmingly high nationwide. This must be halted immediately, not postponed until tomorrow.”
In conclusion, Yakani stated, “CEPO is actively engaged in similar advocacy and lobbying efforts in Europe and across Africa, collaborating with international partners, including Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. Achieving international and regional consensus on South Sudan’s elections is crucial, with a focus on obtaining consensus from the primary actors within the Government of National Unity.”