Watchdog urges presidency to convene on peace implementation

JUBA – A local civil society advocacy group has appealed to the parties to the revitalized peace agreement to regularly convene a meeting of the presidency to discuss important provisions of the revitalized peace agreement which are still pending, as only one year remains for the end of the transitional period.

The collegial presidency is composed of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), former Incumbent Transitional Government of National Unity (ITGONU), South Sudan Opposition Alliance, and the former Sudan People’s Liberation Movement former detainees (SPLM-FDs).

In a statement, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said the body is the most important and the highest institution provided for in the revitalized peace agreement and the members within should start meeting regularly as the 2023 deadly for the general elections is approaching.

“For genuine implementation of R-ARCSS, the parties agreed to the establishment mechanism of the Presidency for cultivating political will and commitment for speedy and genuine implementation of R-ARCSS. The Presidency is the highest national institution at the Presidency of the Republic of South Sudan for making concrete decisions for the sake of genuine implementation of R-ARCSS. Recently the meeting of the presidency on R-ARCSS implementation is not regular,” the CEPO statement extended to Sudans Post reads in part.

Mr. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of CEPO says “a regular meeting of the presidency on the implementation of the R-ARCSS is really critical for speedy and genuine implementation of R-ARCSSS provisions. The lack of regular meeting of the presidency mechanism is not impacting well for decision making on genuine implementation of R-ARCSS.”

“The primary responsibility of deciding on the genuine implementation of the R-ARCSS is totally laying on the decision of the South Sudan leaders especially at the presidency level,” the prominent activist added.

As the country is expecting facilitation of the retreat for the South Sudan by Uganda president including the solidarity mission of Africa Union Peace and Security Council in the month of February, 2022, it is important for the presidency to meet in order to provide national decision on the exit strategy from 22nd February, 2023, Mr. Yakani stressed.