The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Wednesday said that while the UN will endorse the extension of the transitional period, it does so with real regret and disappointment.
Nicholas Haysom who was addressing the Revitalized Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) Extraordinary Plenary said two years ago they supported another extension specifically under the condition that there would be no more extensions.
“Today, it is sadly evident that the country is not ready for elections that we could confidently expect to generate a credible and peaceful outcome, thereby necessitating this extension proposal consideration,” he said. “While the modality and timeline for ending the transitional period are the sovereign prerogative of South Sudan, we would highlight that critical decisions regarding the way forward are needed. There is still a mountain to climb. Urgency rather than a pause is required. At the least, this demands a clear timeline that would restore confidence in the process.”
Haysom added: “As noted by the UN Secretary-General in April and July 2024, the implementation of a ‘critical mass’ of matters necessary for a peaceful conduct of free, fair, and credible elections in South Sudan remains unmet.”
He reiterated the UN Secretary General’s call that the parties must commit to take urgent steps together to conduct these elections. He added that the peaceful conduct of credible elections and the implementation of the outcome is a shared strategic goal of South Sudanese stakeholders and regional and international partners.
“This delay is not for want of support by UNMISS and its partners. Since the first UN South Sudan electoral needs assessment mission mandated by the UN Security Council in 2021 and subsequent assessments, including the IGAD-AU-UN Trilateral needs assessment mandated by the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) in 2022, we and our partners have extended support to the government, and particularly to the national electoral institutions,” the UNMISS Chief explained. “To inject a sense of urgency and prioritization in the process, in July 2023, these efforts found expression in the Trilateral’s presentation to the Transitional Government 10 priority areas that needed urgent decision and attention to make elections possible by December 2024. It is telling that as matters stand, only one element of the ten points has been achieved.”
He added: “I emphasize that the Transitional Government and the South Sudanese political class must take responsibility for the failures of the past two years.”
According to Haysom, the response of ordinary citizens to these failures and disappointments has been evident in the past couple of weeks, and the leadership must, therefore, recognize that confidence will need to be restored.
“As we look at the new implementation measures and timelines being discussed by the High-level Standing Committee and the Tumaini Initiative, we would underscore that what has been lacking is not so much new structures and mechanisms but real political will to implement the first elections since independence and bring an end to the transitional period,” he underscored.
The UNMISS head concluded by saying that it is time for South Sudan’s leaders to prioritize the interests of the nation; rebuild public trust and confidence; open up necessary political and civic space; engage and accommodate all voices and viewpoints, including non-signatory parties in the Tumaini Initiative, all to break the cycle of continuous transitions in South Sudan and pave the way towards an inclusive and sustainable peace.
“The United Nations stands ready to support the transitional process in South Sudan, including through the many efforts being undertaken jointly with our partners IGAD and the African Union,” Haysom ended.