(JUBA) – With the end of South Sudan’s transitional period fast approaching, urgent dialogue is required to resolve the situation in the country, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) said.
The peace monitoring body, in a statement issued on Thursday, said there is a need for clear and actionable political guidance from the executive of the Government of National Unity as well as the parties to the peace agreement, on how they intend to expedite and complete the pending tasks prior to elections.
“Elections as scheduled are barely nine months away, the Republic of South Sudan therefore, needs clarity from the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) on how it is planning to expedite and complete the critical pending tasks necessary to conduct free, fair and credible elections in December 2024,” partly reads the statement.
According to the peace monitors, several critical tasks remain unimplemented, adding that critical bodies, such as the Political Parties Council (PPC), the National Elections Commission (NEC) and the National Constitutional Review Commission(NCRC), remain unfunded with no clear timelines on the way forward.
The body, thus, called for urgent dialogue of parties to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The dialogue, it further stressed, would help address the current political situation.
“It is clear that the way forward on elections depends on the parties meeting and engaging in dialogue openly and constructively, in the spirit of collegiality and consensus,” the statement noted.
The peace monitoring body called for collegial collaboration in decision-making and continuous consultations between the President, First Vice President, and the four Vice Presidents for effective governance during the transitional period.
“Even though implementation has not progressed according to the Roadmap timelines, it is nonetheless possible to make important strides in the coming months by undertaking various tasks as stipulated in the R-ARCSS. This will serve as a clear demonstration of the political goodwill needed to move forward while engaging in dialogue,” it noted in the statement.
On Monday, First Vice President Riek Machar called for a mediated dialogue among parties to the 2018 revitalized peace agreement to agree on the timeline for the elections and revision of the peace roadmap.
Some of the pending tasks include funding and operationalization of the elections-related institutions responsible preparing and conduct of elections, and the making of the permanent constitution meant to guide conduct of elections.
The other key pending tasks, include judicial reforms to enhance the capacity and independence of judicial institutions, completion of phase 1 and phase 2 unification of forces, and the expansion of political and civic space to enhance public participation in the constitution and election processes.
South Sudan is scheduled to hold elections in December 2024. The elections are seen as crucial in transitioning the country towards democratic governance.
