South Sudan peace monitors said the lack of sufficient progress and clarity on general elections-preparedness is creating uncertainty in the country.
Speaking at a monthly meeting in Juba on Thursday, Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, the Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), said constitution-making and unification of forces are critical pre-condition for smooth and successful elections.
The Interim Chairperson emphasised the need to conduct civic education, fast-track the permanent constitution-making process and promote political and civic space to allow citizens to exercise their democratic rights.
“It is incumbent on the country’s leadership to consolidate the peace dividends to all its diverse communities through a democratic transition,” he said.
Gituai noted the passage of the National Elections Act 2012 (Amendment) Bill 2023 by the reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), and its subsequent assent by the President, calling it “an important step in realising the democratic aspirations of the people of South Sudan.”
In his recommendations, he called on the parties to the agreement to dialogue among themselves and agree on the practical steps to fast-track the implementation of the Roadmap to ensure the timely conduct of elections and ensure that women’s representation in the political process attains the minimum 35% threshold, including in the constitution-making bodies and the other institutions and commissions being reconstituted.
He also called for the completion of the unification and redeployment of forces and further urged the transitional government to provide adequate resources to the security mechanisms.
While updating the participants on his recent diplomatic engagements with the international community, Gituai said it is “evident that there is much goodwill to support South Sudan in the pursuit of sustainable peace and development.”
“Therefore, expectations are that the Parties will adhere to the Agreement, increase the pace of implementation and demonstrate tangible progress in the completion of the critical pending tasks,” he added.
South Sudan was meant to conclude a transition period with general elections in February 2023, but the transitional government failed to meet key provisions of the agreement, including drafting a constitution.
The parties to the agreement extended the transitional government’s time in office for another two years, meaning elections would be held in December 2024.