Elvince Joshua
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan’s anticipated general elections could hit obstacles if certain critical tasks are not implemented in time in accordance with the agreed roadmap, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) warned.
The Interim Chairperson of RJMEC, Amb. Maj Gen (rtd). Charles Tai Gituai, pointed out that peaceful democratic elections remain fully anchored on leaders’ demonstrations of political will to meet the roadmap timeline.
“As I have said previously in this forum, peaceful and democratic elections are within our reach and are possible in the next 23 months if we focus our collective efforts on facilitating progress,” said Gituai.
He recommended adherence to the roadmap timelines, emphasising timely and adequate funding for all tasks, the urgent passing of the outstanding bills by the Transitional National Legislature, and commencing the process of phase two training and graduation of the necessary unified forces.
He outlined the importance of ending subnational violence and the reconstitution and appointment of the critical Constitution Making Process while recognising women’s 35 percent affirmative action.
“Address subnational violence, especially in the Upper Nile and Jonglei States, hold perpetrators accountable, and take steps to address the root causes and protect the civilians and their properties,” he urged the leaders.
In August this year, parties to the 2018 revitalised peace agreement extended the transitional period for the third time for 24 months and agreed on a roadmap to ensure all the outstanding provisions of the peace deal were implemented ahead of the December 2024 general elections.
However, other critical tasks, such as the commencement of phase two of the training and the graduation of the necessary unified forces, have failed to meet the deadline of November 30, 2022. The reconstitution and appointment of the critical Constitution Making Process, as well as the repatriation of the refugees and internally displaced persons, were yet to start.
The government has decried the lack of arms to deploy the graduated, necessary unified forces, arguing the problem has been brought on by the arms embargo that bars the country from buying weapons and other military equipment.
Speaking to The City Review last week, Maj Gen(rtd) Gituai encouraged the government to implement the peace agreement without hesitation, pointing out that this is the best remedy to ensure that the restrictions are lifted.
“Resolution 2577 of the UNSC is very clear on what South Sudan is supposed to do to have the arms embargo lifted. “In a nutshell, they are just supposed to implement the agreement,” he noted.
“You can ask for a waiver on the arms embargo if you state your case, and this could be presented based on the requirements of the roadmap and must be addressed properly to the UN.”
The jury will be out on South Sudan’s fate on the subject of the arms embargo come May 30, 2023, when the UN Security Council will reconvene and discuss the matter before subjecting it to a vote. It was upheld in May 2022, after the council argued that South Sudan flouted the terms to have it lifted—a decision that South Sudan protested and termed political.
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