Watchdog calls for ‘concrete’ measures on South Sudan ahead of AU meeting

JUBA, FEBRUARY 15^th 2023 (SUDANS POST) – A South Sudan civil society watchdog is appealing to the African Union (AU) to take concrete actions on South Sudan when it discusses important issues on Saturday at its annual meeting in Addis Ababa.

The 36^th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly (Heads of state and government session) will commence on Saturday, February 18^th through Sunday, February 19^th and will discuss important issues affecting the continent.

In a statement extended to Sudans Post, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said the continental gathering is important and that it is an opportunity for the leaders to take concrete measures on South Sudan’s transition as it starts a fresh twenty-month extension.

“The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization view this African Union head of states and government summit critical for Africa Union leadership to make some concrete decision on the political transitional process in South Sudan since on 22nd February, 2023 the official transitional period for the implementation of the R-ARCSS is ending while beginning of the extended 24 months for implementing the pending tasks of the R-ARCSS,” CEPO said.

South Sudan leaders in August last year agreed to extend the transitional period for additional twenty-four month period. This, they said, will allow the parties to implement provisions of the revitalized peace agreement which could not be implemented due to either lack of resources or time in the initial thirty-six months period.

Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO, said the AU should take concrete decision on South Sudan otherwise the latest extension of the transitional period will not produce any tangible results different from the previous 36 months.

“The extended 24 months will not make any big difference that may constitute positive political transition in South Sudan without effective influence from AU, UN and IGAD leadership on regular bases. The high deficit in trust and confidence among the parties’ signatories to the R-ARCSS is totally hindering genuine and timely implementation of the R-ARCSS pending tasks,” Yakani said.

Among others, CEPO called on the AU leaders to take decision on an “Immediate redeployment of the graduated unified forces before the end of February, 2023 and rolling out the training, graduation and redeployment of the second branch of the unified forces before the end May, 2023.”

The watchdog also called for an “Immediate reconstitution of political transitional institutions namely Political Parties Council, National Constitutional Review Commission and National Election Commission including the formation of the Constitutional Drafting Committee.”

The prominent civil society watchdog further called on the continental leaders to press for the establishment of transitional justice institutions provided for in chapter five of the revitalized peace agreement and for the AU to push for “the IGAD head states and governments to hold summit on South Sudan political transitional process by March, 2023.”