R-JMEC endorses extension of transitional period

JUBA – Members of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) on Thursday voted unanimously to endorse the extension, by the parties to the revitalized peace agreement, of the transitional period for twenty-four months.

At least 37 out of 42 members voted in favor of the extension.

Four members including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway abstained and one unidentified member was absent, according to the chairperson of the peace-monitoring body, Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai.

“The result was as follows: 37 out of 42 members present today voted in favor, 5 did not vote while one was absent,” Maj Gen. Gituai said as he read out the final release of voting on Thursday.

Gituai said the vote has met the two-thirds majority of the vote as required by the 2018 peace deal.

Information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth said the roadmap will be taken back to the cabinet, and then afterward the cabinet will pass it to the national parliament for ratification.

“This resolution will go back to the cabinet and the cabinet will then pass it to the minister of justice and the minister of justice will then amend it in the constitution in accordance with amendment and tabled it to the parliament,” Makuei told reporters on Thursday.

“From here the document will now go to the parliament for the necessary amendment, so congratulation to all of us for this very important achievement.”

Last month, parties to the 2018 peace deal extended their mandate by two years to complete the political, security, and electoral reforms needed to move the country forward -starting on 22 February 2023 and ends in February 2025.