Lawmakers warn of “last chance” as transitional period extended

JUBA – Members of South Sudan’s National Legislative Assembly have called the recent two-year extension of the transitional period the “last chance” for the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), urging leaders to make the most of the time to prepare the country for democratic elections.

During an extraordinary sitting on Friday, which saw the passing of a constitutional amendment extending the transitional government’s mandate, several lawmakers expressed concern about repeated delays in implementing the 2018 peace deal.

They warned that the cycle of continuous extensions must come to an end.

“Our people are tired and hungry; they’ve been waiting, watching these extensions over and over again,” said Farouk Gatkouth, the chief whip of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO). “We must apologize to them, and we must make them understand that if this is the only way to keep the country moving forward, then we have to take it seriously.”

Gatkouth emphasized the need for political will to push the country towards elections, acknowledging the lack of progress in peace implementation.

“I hope this time there will be strong political will to address this issue and break the cycle of delays,” he added.

Another lawmaker, Samuel Loti, echoed these concerns, stating that the extension must mark the final one.

“This should be the last chance, honorable members,” Loti remarked. “We should not continue extending again. We must finish this and end it with an election.”

Dengtiel Ayuel Kur, chairperson of the Specialized Committee on Legislation and Justice, noted that had the bill been debated, more voices of concern over the lack of political will would have been raised.

“People are crying out there, asking why you are maintaining the government and its parliament without delivering results,” Dengtiel said.

In response, Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba defended the process, stating that the floor was open for debate on the issue, and no one was prevented from speaking.

She acknowledged that any lack of political will comes from all parties involved in the transitional government, not just a single faction.

“The government of national unity carries the blame, and no political party is excluded from that,” Kumba said, urging all parties to use the extension wisely by creating a well-defined roadmap supported by the necessary budget to complete the remaining tasks in the peace agreement.

The two-year extension, which postpones elections until December 2026, has stirred debate among lawmakers and civil society, with many demanding a firm commitment from the government to avoid further delays.