The members of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) during an extraordinary meeting on Thursday voted to extend the Transitional Period and term of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) by two years from 23 February 2023 until 22 February 2025, a press release said.
Article 8.4 of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) requires that at least two-thirds of the voting members consent to an amendment of the Agreement, which is 29 of the total 43 members. 37 voted in favor of the extension.
The extension was part of a Roadmap presented to the RJMEC members by the RTGoNU and known as the “Agreement on the Roadmap to a Peaceful and Democratic end to the Transitional Period of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan”.
“The RTGoNU Roadmap which seeks to amend Article 1.1.2 of the R-ARCSS to extend the Transitional Period for another 24 months now requires ratification by the Transitional National Legislature, according to the constitutional amendment procedures set out in the Transitional Constitution of the Republic South Sudan, 2011 (as amended),” the RJMEC statement read.
As the next step, the RJMEC Chairperson, Amb. Maj Gen Charles Tai Gituai will submit the decision of the RJMEC together with the accompanying resolution to the RTGoNU to consider RJMEC’s position and recommendation on the matter.
In his closing statement, Gen. Gituai encouraged the peace partners to keep dialoguing.
“I would like to encourage the Parties to continuously dialogue, work together to enhance the rebuilding of trust and confidence in the peace process, by taking concrete steps to address all the key impediments to progress in the implementation of the Agreement,” he said.
The RLMEC chairperson further urged the RTGoNU Parties to implement the Roadmap in an inclusive manner, including by continuously consulting with all relevant stakeholders, and civil society actors, during its implementation.
“I urge the RTGoNU to demonstrate full and unwavering political will and commitment to implement all the priority tasks set out in the Roadmap, in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Revitalised Peace Agreement to implement additional interim measures, including an economic recovery plan to improve the current business environment,” he concluded.