South Sudan transition under threat from political frictions at state levels, warns Yakani

JUBA JANUARY 14^TH 2023 (SUDANS POST) – Prominent South Sudan activist Edmund Yakani has raised alarm over lack of political cooperation between the parties to the revitalized peace agreement at the state levels and warned that the political frictions threaten the ongoing transition in the world’s youngest country.

This comes after disagreement between the governor of Jonglei State – a member of SSOA – and his speaker of parliament – a member of the SPLM-IO – resulted in a republican decree in which President Salva Kiir Mayardit sacked the speaker without consultation with FVP Dr. Riek Machar Teny who is also the leader of the main armed opposition group.

In a statement, Yakani who is also the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) urged the leadership of the country in Juba to put its attention in the powers of the state leaders as this, he said, threatens the transition.

“CEPO is urging the political leadership of South Sudan to quickly take shock of the functions of the states’ governments in relation of the spirit of the R-ARCSS. Recently the trend of disunity among top state political leaders across the country is growing too worse,” he said.

“The frictions between legislative and executive leaders and secondly frictions between executive leaders as such governor and deputy governor in some states are totally undermining the spirit of R-ARCSS implementation,” he warned.

The prominent activist further stressed that “The current period of R-ARCSS implementation requires serious commitment for renewal of political pledge for genuine action on R-ARCSS. The trend of growing political tensions among leaders and parties at the state level will absolutely contribute for inadequate implementation of the R-ARCSS.”

“Finally, CEPO is urging state leaders and parties to adhere to the spirit of the R-ARCSS implementation. The redeployment of the graduated unified forces should be Finalized by the 22 February 2023,” the prominent activist concluded.