JUBA – Prominent activist Edmund Yakani is appealing to President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar Teny to speed up the reconstitution of key national institutions provided for in the revitalized peace agreement, saying a smooth transitional period will be determined by the formation of these institutions.
In a statement extended to Sudans Post this evening, Yakani who is also the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said Kiir and Machar should immediately reconstitute the National Political Parties Council, the National Constitution Commission, the National Elections Commission in order to effect an inclusive political process ahead of December 2024 elections.
“CEPO is urging the political leadership of the country to speed up the reconstitution of key political institutions namely Political Parties Council, the National Constitution Commission, and the National Elections Commission for enhancement of inclusive political process for successful transitioning from violence to peace,” Yakani said in the statement.
The peace activist who has recently won a continental prestigious award for peace activism said any engagement between the political leaders who are leading various political groups in the country should be based on the peace agreement and anything short of that would be undemocratic and may undermine conducive environment for political participation.
“Early inclusive political engagement on matters of political parties’ establishment, constitution-making and national elections is essential. It will be undemocratic to have rush engagement on these political processes that defines the foundation of conducive environment for political engagement for transitioning the country from violence to peace,” the activist said.
SECURITY AND ECONOMIC REFORMS
Yakani further called on the political leaders in the world’s youngest country to go on with an immediate unification of the various security sectors and to also carry one financial and economic reforms as well as delivery of transitional justice which he said is necessary for reconciliation among the South Sudanese communities.
“Political leaders should sincerely take the tasks of unification and reform of the defense and security sector, finance and economic reforms and genuine transitional justice as an essential benchmark for successful completion of the transitional period,” Yakani said.
“It is now time for opening up free political and civic space in order for the country to gain political legitimacy for peaceful political power,” Yakani added, urging Kiir and Machar “to reconstitute the political institutions before 30th September 2022.”
The outspoken activist further called on “the national transitional legislative assembly to speedily enact the laws before them.”
