South Sudan’s leaders must focus on meeting their commitments to the people of South Sudan to implement the peace agreement and make sustained, tangible progress to completing the transition to a permanent, elected government acceptable to the people of South Sudan, the Troika has said.
U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan Michael J. Adler delivered the Troika’s stand at a meeting of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) on Thursday in Juba.
“Implementation of the peace agreement is not progressing with the necessary political will, as was assured by the government when it obtained a two-year extension of the transitional period,” he said.
“President (Salva) Kiir stated during the opening of the transitional parliament that there would be no more extensions and that elections would be held as scheduled. Time is fleeting if the transitional government intends to match the President’s words with tangible action to complete the constitution and hold credible elections.”
Ambassador Adler said the Troika renews its call for the government to hold accountable those who continue to incite violence and engage in intimidation to meet their own political aims and objectives which he says can only be detrimental to the wellbeing of the people of South Sudan.
“Mr. Chairman, the Troika is looking to the transitional government to take concrete actions, propelled by a real and determined sense of urgency,” he said. “Statements of intent must be quickly transformed into real-world deliverables. Only by doing so will the continuing hardships facing the people of South Sudan begin to be alleviated.”
According to Adler, the Troika noted the 3 March announcement of changes in ministerial responsibility and reports that discussions among the parties on disagreements over how the decision was made and the way forward are ongoing.
“While the Troika takes no position on the specifics of this matter, the Troika does take the position that transitional government success, which we define as meeting peace commitments and bringing the transitional period to a successful conclusion without further extension must be the priority for all,” he said. “Communication and proper consultation between the parties is critical to achieving that outcome without further delays. We will view the manner and the speed with which the parties resolve the current issue as an indication of their political will to achieve these objectives.”
“May the parties demonstrate a shared commitment to move forward together with urgency to achieve lasting peace for the South Sudanese people,” he added.