Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan’s National Democratic Movement (NDM) led by Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin has rejected what he calls any ‘blanket extension’ of the transitional period saying nothing will change as parties have derailing implementation of crucial provisions of the revitalized peace agreement since the signing of the deal in 2018.
Rumors of extension for the transitional period have been ongoing in the social media after the parties failed to agree on timeline for the implementation of the agreement’s provisions that make elections possible.
Kiir has been calling for elections, but main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has been calling for implementation of the agreement before any poll is conducted arguing that any practice such as conduct of elections without a unified security sector would return the country to violence.
In a statement this week, the NDM said it is only six months to the conduct of elections as per the agreement, but crucial tasks have remained not implemented and blamed lack of political will from the parties for the peace stalemate.
“Today, the 22nd of June, is exactly six (6) months to the time for conducting the general elections as specified in the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan on 22 December 2022,” the NDM said in the June 22 statement.
“However, the prerequisites for conducting free, fair and credible elections have not been fulfilled. These include: the unification of the armed forces; conduct of a population census; adopting a permanent constitution for the country; judicial reform; repatriation and resettlement of the millions of refugees and internally displaced persons; and enacting laws that are necessary for the process,” the statement extended to Sudans Post reads in part.
The statement said that “These important tasks were not implemented for the lack of political will. There was a deliberate action since 2018, when the agreement was signed, to stonewall the implementation process so as to keep the status quo and get the transitional period extended for those involved to buy themselves a new lease on time.”
The statement said that “A blanket extension of the transitional period will not serve any useful purpose other than to fulfil the designs of those who obstructed the implementation of the peace agreement from the word go.
“The failure to realize the prerequisites for conducting free, fair and credible elections is not due to lack of time but to lack of political will. Therefore, nothing is likely to change even if the transitional period is extended ad infinitum.
“The NDM leadership deliberated in depth on how and when should the elections be conducted. It was noted that at least one Party to the Agreement would want to confront the South Sudanese people with a stark choice between two options none of which is acceptable.
“Either to carry out the elections under their own terms, in which case the elections will not be free and fair, or get the transitional period extended under the status quo.
“In contrast, the NDM is offering a realistic and practical roadmap that puts emphasis on preparing a level ground for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections including unification of the armed forces and the promulgation of a permanent constitution on the basis of which the elections should be held.
“It also suggests what to do should the timetable for carrying out elections go beyond the end of the transitional period under the peace agreement. The NDM is cognizant of the fact that it is the Parties to the agreement to decide on the new roadmap under the present conditions.
“However, it is common knowledge and experience that some Parties to the Agreement are not ready to honour an agreement that they appended their signatures to.
“This is why the NDM also calls for the regional and international organizations and countries to stand up to their responsibilities under the peace agreement which they brokered and signed as guarantors or witnesses.
“They cannot at this critical time shake off responsibility and say that it is a matter for the South Sudanese to decide. If it were for the South Sudanese alone to decide there would have been no need for a mediation to bring about the peace agreement and there would have been no reason to have guarantors.
“The guarantors and the witnesses were there to make sure that the South Sudanese adhere to an agreement they have signed on their own volition.
“We have shared our position as above with RJMEC and IGAD hoping that they will take the necessary steps for the Parties, under their mediation and facilitation, to discuss and agree on the way forward as the end of the transitional period approaches.”
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