![Executive Director for CEPO, Edmund Yakani [Photo by Taban]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/122465756_357935428743794_6375972029108067931_n.jpg?resize=850%2C566&ssl=1)
Yakani, who is the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), made the call during an interview with Sudans Post yesterday.
“We appeal to parliament to conduct public hearings on the content of these bills before the third reading,” Yakani said.
Yakani stressed the importance of broad consultations on these critical bills.
The Transitional National Legislative Assembly advanced the bills to the third reading last week.
“While we encourage MPs to finalize the establishment of the Commission and Authority before recess, political transition cannot be successful without effective and genuine transitional justice,” Yakani said.
“Transitional justice is the foundation for building a post-conflict state,” he added. “We urge parliament to enact the transitional justice legislation before recess.”
The two bills, aligned with Chapter 5 of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement, are seen as crucial for fostering healing, reconciliation, and providing compensation to victims and survivors of the conflict that began in December 2013.
In a separate development, Yakani raised serious concerns about the impact of floods that displaced over 1,300 people in Leer County of Unity State following heavy rains last week.
Residents of Leer town said floodwaters inundated homes in the affected areas of Adok, Yang, and Thonyor payams. Displaced residents from these villages arrived in Leer town with no food, shelter, or other basic necessities.
Yakani in a statement extended to Sudans Post Monday urged the national government to take immediate action to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis.
“The threats of climate change in terms of floods and drought are real humanitarian issues that require the government’s proactive role,” said Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of CEPO.
He emphasized the urgency of the situation, particularly for vulnerable populations.
“These waves of floods this year are sincerely threatening the livelihood of our communities, especially in high-alert states like Unity,” Yakani said. “It is essential that any response to the floods fully considers the specific needs of people with disabilities.”
The activist noted that past flood response efforts lacked inclusivity for people with disabilities and plans to collaborate with relevant ministries and the South Sudan Union of Persons with Disabilities to address this in future responses.
However, CEPO’s primary concern is the lack of immediate action from the government.
“The leadership of the country needs to speed up the release of the physical cash from the cabinet recent approved funds for the floods responses,” Yakani said. “These delays put lives at risk.”
The local civil society watchdog further called for the swift release of approved flood response funds and a more proactive approach from the government to address the looming humanitarian crisis.
