Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for South Sudan has expressed concern over slow pace of the peace implementation.
Anita Kiki Gbeho, who is also the UN Resident Coordinator in South Sudan, says the peace deal laid the foundation for inclusive political process but repeated extensions of implementation timeline have led to unending delays.
She said benchmarks such as security arrangements, permanent constitution and preparations for the December 2026 first general elections, have all been affected.
The UN official was speaking during women leadership conference organized by the first lady on Wednesday.
“The 2018 revitalized peace agreement laid the foundation for an inclusive political process and a pathway to a permanent constitution and national elections. While some progress has been made, critical tasks remain,”
the UN official criticized the 2022 extension of the transitional period, saying it has failed to expedite implementation of critical tasks including security arrangements, constitution-making and preparations for elections, as promised by the peace parties.
“The 2022 roadmap extended the transitional period and set clear benchmarks, yet significant gaps persist in areas such as; security arrangements, constitution-making, electoral preparations and inclusive political dialogue especially for women, youth and the marginalized,” she lamented.
In March 2025, the head of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC), the body tasked with monitoring the peace implementation, told an African Union meeting that the 2018 peace deal was facing its most serious challenge since its signing in 2018.
Maj Gen. George Aggrey, who is the R-JMEC Interim Chairperson, said South Sudanese leaders should speak with one voice and honour their promise of not returning the country back to war.
Gen. Aggrey called on the presidency to conduct meetings to resolve issues arising and expedite implementation.
His remarks came after First Vice President and leader of opposition Sudan people’s Liberation Movement/Army – In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), Dr Riek Machar was placed under house arrests fighting erupted in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.
Local armed militia group known as the White Army previously associated with Machar-led SPLM/A-IO had attacked government forces and killed their commander David Majur Dak during a failed evacuation attempt conducted by the UN mission in South Sudan.
Several senior military and political leaders of the SPLM/A-IO, including the Minister of Mining Puot Kang Chol, were also detained.
The peace observers said that the tensions and the slow pace of implementation were worrying.
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