![Edmund Yakani, CEPO Executive Director [Photo by Civil Rights Defenders]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Edmund-Yakani.jpg?resize=1024%2C613&ssl=1)
Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), arrived in Washington on Tuesday for meetings with policy circles, according to a statement extended to Sudans Post by CEPO.
The organization promotes democracy and peaceful resolution of political disputes in South Sudan.
Yakani will meet with UN officials, international rights and democracy organizations, South Sudan’s UN mission, and US government officials, including those at the US Institute of Peace.
Discussions, according to the statement, will focus on the democratic transition in the world’s youngest nation.
“The ultimate goal of the international advocacy and lobby engagement is to help to narrow gaps associated with a successful, peaceful and democratic ending of the political transitional process in South Sudan,” the statement said.
In a separate email to Sudans Post, Yakani expressed public opposition to extending the transitional period and warned of a trust deficit among parties to the revitalized peace agreement.
“The public is frank against ineffective extensions of the political transitional process. The high degree of deficit in trust and confidence among the political elites of South Sudan will never help ending the suffering of the common citizens,” he said, further condemning self-serving political behaviors.
“Majority of the political elites of South Sudan never value the best of citizens above their personal interest… They are fan of holding the citizens’ hostage to suffering due to their political grievances that are more centered on personal interest…” Yakani added.
He warned that any extension of the political period without inclusive consensus for December 2024 elections risks further violence. Yakani urged current leaders and their opposition to reach a consensus to end suffering through a democratic process.
“The extent of human rights violations, economic pressure and other forms of human atrocities such are deadly political motivated armed communal violence on common citizens is very higher across the country. This requires to be stop now not tomorrow,” he concluded.
I hope the visit will cement the call for Elections to transition the country into democratic governance ending nearly over a decade of self-serving elites of post-conflict former rebel-generals government. Lets hope the president of the R-TGONUE not to make another “U-turn” to allow another extension needed by self-serving peace-partners in disguise of outstanding tasks. Go ahead Yakani even if you are to called names, for example, government agent, CEPO already in the pay roll of IG, etc.
Our people only” Hope” is change and status quo through elections, we hope the president stay on course for Elections. Read my articles and journals on ” Peace making and peace implementation in South Sudan and OPINION articles in Radio Tamazuj>
Self serving politicians are now100% not interesting for 2024 general elections because they know elects goverment will hold them accountable for the mismanagement of public resources.