JUBA—The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), the body overseeing implementation of South Sudan’s peace agreement, has warned that political disputes, insecurity and delays in implementing key reforms could undermine the credibility of the December 22 general elections, now less than two months away.
In its third-quarter report released on Wednesday, RJMEC says several critical tasks remain incomplete, including security arrangements and reforms under the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
“Only two months remain before the scheduled elections, while several critical election-related tasks of the R-ARCSS remained outstanding,” the report states.
RJMEC also questions the government’s decision to amend the peace agreement without following the procedures stipulated in the agreement.
According to the report, the proposed amendments were submitted to the Transitional National Legislature without first securing the required approval from RJMEC. The commission says they were not endorsed by at least two-thirds of its voting members, as required under Article 8.4 of the agreement.
It says the move was inconsistent with the agreement and raises concerns about efforts to end the transitional period and dissolve transitional government arrangements without consensus among the signatories.
RJMEC also describes the dissolution of the presidency as “a unilateral decision contrary to Article 1.1.4 of the R-ARCSS.”
Opposition exclusion
The report further questions whether the inter-party dialogue launched on September 24 can resolve political differences, given the absence of some political groups, including allies of detained and exiled SPLM/A-IO leaders and holdout groups that did not participate.
The commission also cites concerns over unilateral decisions and the continued detention of opposition figures.
“The status of the dialogue remains unclear at this point,” the report says, calling for inclusive political talks involving all signatories to the peace agreement and holdout groups.
Meanwhile, the RJMEC said ongoing armed clashes, intercommunal violence and incomplete security arrangements could threaten candidates, voters and election officials, as well as disrupt voter registration, campaigning and access to polling stations.
These challenges, the commission says, could also undermine public acceptance of the results.
RJMEC urges political leaders to resolve their differences through dialogue, respect the permanent ceasefire and complete priority security tasks, including arrangements to protect the electoral process. It also calls for reliable support for electoral institutions.
Flawed constitutional reforms
The commission says progress on the permanent constitution-making process stalled during the reporting period.
“No new progress was registered during this reporting period,” the report states, adding that momentum slowed after the government decided to separate the constitutional process from the elections.
Despite the delays and political divisions, RJMEC says political dialogue and increased regional engagement could still help build consensus.
It stresses that responsibility for implementing the peace agreement rests primarily with South Sudan’s political parties and transitional government.
With the elections approaching, the commission urges leaders to put national interests above party interests, engage in dialogue and allow greater civic and political space.
“Lasting peace, stability, and democratic governance in South Sudan can best be achieved through re-adherence to the letter and spirit of the R-ARCSS,” the report concludes.
“What is needed is political will and recommitment to the ideals that guided the country over the last eight years,” the report stated.
South Sudan is set to conduct its first democratic general election on December 22, 2026. But there are visible gaps in its preparation with just less than two months left. Nationwide voter registration and education have not started yet as of October, with the National Election Commission citing financial challenges.
Despite these challenges, President Salva Kiir has maintained that the December 22 elections will be held by all means, saying the challenges facing the country should not prevent citizens from electing their leaders.
