South Sudan youth-led party decries proposed extension, urges public action

JUBA – A South Sudanese youth-led political party, the African People’s Congress (APC), strongly condemned a proposed extension of the transitional period in a statement dated July 4. The APC called the move “against the principles of democracy and the will of the people.”

President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar signed a revitalized peace agreement in September 2018 to end a five-year civil war. The deal stipulated a 36-month transitional period, but setbacks in implementation have necessitated multiple extensions.

Last week, a high-level committee established by Kiir and Machar to assess progress concluded that only 10% of the agreement has been implemented. According to officials, the committee subsequently proposed a 24-month extension of the transitional period, pushing elections back to at least December 2024.

Kiir and Machar are expected to make an announcement for the extension in the next few weeks.

The APC denounced the proposed extension, accusing the government of prioritizing power retention over the needs of the South Sudanese people.

The statement blamed the ongoing economic crisis on government mismanagement, corruption, and a decline in oil production largely caused by the ongoing conflict with Sudan.

“The prevailing economic hardship … is a direct result of the empty coffers of our government, caused by the 75% shutdown of oil production and lack of reserves, further exacerbated by poor management of resources by the government due to runaway corruption,” the APC statement said.

It questioned the financial viability of the “large government” without a steady flow of oil revenue.

The APC called upon all South Sudanese citizens to take a stand against the extension and urged the public to gather at the presidential palace (J1) and state government offices to voice their opposition and demand a leaner government composed of non-political actors.

“We call on all South Sudanese to take action … by being present at State House (J1) during the deliberation of the extension proposal by the illegitimate election-phobic presidency which is due late this month or early next month,” the statement said.

It proposed similar actions in state capitals and urged people to follow media coverage of the extension deliberations.

The party advocated for a smaller government composed of non-political actors, including selected civil society members, professional associations, trade unions, and academics.

This leaner body, according to the APC, would be tasked with preparing the country for a “democratic and peaceful transition” based on the 2020 National Dialogue Resolution.