The United Nations has identified major issues which it recommends the government tackles for South Sudan to be able to conduct credible elections at the end of the transitional period next year.
Speaking during the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) monthly meeting in Juba on Thursday, Nicolas Haysom, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) called on the parties to fast-tract the drafting of the new constitution to provide a legal framework for the conduct of elections.
He called on the government to fast-track the process of drafting the new constitution which should include all the voices of South Sudanese.
“The drafting of the new constitution is a crucial opportunity for South Sudanese to define what it means to be a South Sudanese. We want to support an inclusive process that gives a dignified voice to all South Sudanese but especially including IDPs, Refugees, women, youths, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized communities,” Haysom said. “Importantly, the finalization of the legal framework and the reconstitution of the national elections commission, cannot be shelved until 2024. Not with the logistical challenges that preparation for elections in South Sudan will face”
The UN chief warned the government against slippage of key benchmarks related to peace implementation and called for political space as the country moves towards the end of the transitional period.
He also called on the government to arm the unified forces and deploy them to address subnational violence.
“Strengthening and deployment of unified forces to better enable the protection of civilians from north to South of the country from east to west and to create a safe space for political and democratic debate,” Haysom said. “I welcome phase one for the graduation and encourage the parties to familiarize formally for recanalization, proper equipment, and deployment of the necessary unified forces and the other requirements which will make such deployments possible”
He confirmed that the government has approached the UN to seek assistance to conduct general elections next year.
“I can confirm that the United Nations received the formal invitation from the government to assist in the (election) process,” he said. “This is significant because it authorizes the United Nations to advise and assists with best practice for the technical preparation for the elections. Let me reiterate that this will not be a UN-run process but a South Sudanese-administered election with UN support.”
Meanwhile, RJMEC’s Gen. Charles Tai Gituai recommended the parties reconstitute the Political Parties Council as part of the operationalization of the recently enacted laws, which will help in protecting political space and allow for the registration of political parties.
He called on the parties to harmonize the ranks of the necessary unified forces and cater to their welfare and for dialogue among parties caught in the subnational violence.
“Harmonize the ranks of the unified forces and provide for their welfare so that they can be deployed to provide security and protection for civilians caught up in subnational violence,” he said. “Initiate dialogue between the communities and parties to address subnational violence in the country, particularly in the hotspots of Upper Nile, Jonglei, the Equatorias, and Greater Pibor Administrative Area.”
Gen.Gituai also called for the commencement of the second phase of training of the unified forces without further delay and provision of adequate resources to the Security Mechanisms and cantonment sites and training centers.