The South Sudan Civil Society Forum (SSCSF) has expressed profound concern over the recent decision to postpone elections and extend the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
SSCSF said in a press release dated September 20, that it was outraged that the decision had been reached without building an inclusive national consensus.
“While acknowledging the practical realities that make credible elections unfeasible within the remaining period of the R-ARCSS, this extension starkly underscores the government’s failure to allocate adequate resources for implementation and the lack of commitment and genuine political will since the previous extension,” reads the press release.
It noted that the two years of the previous extensions had only increased the suffering of the people, the economic decline, rampant corruption, and the constriction of civic and political space, leading to widespread fear and despair.
Besides, it further noted, the recently endorsed extension by the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) offered no new assurance to citizens and the international partners that the implementation will succeed over the next two years.
“It neglects to confront the critical factors that perpetuate stagnation: a chronic absence of political commitment and insufficient resource allocation. Alarmingly, even when resources are earmarked for implementation, they have been diverted for other purposes.”
SSCSF said it firmly advocated for the Tumaini Initiative talks in Kenya as the viable pathway towards building genuine national consensus and accelerating the implementation of the outstanding provisions of the R-ARCSS and a meaningful political transition, culminating in credible and transparent elections.
“We strongly urge the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), along with all parties and stakeholders involved in the Tumaini Initiative, to collaboratively develop a comprehensive implementation matrix,” SSCSF advised.
SSCSF is a coalition of over 200 independent civic groups established in December 2017. It plays a vital role in facilitating unified engagement, and advocating meaningful participation of the South Sudanese population in shaping their country’s future.