The peace process in South Sudan is facing a fresh obstacle as an agreement on an election program to remove the existing Unity government and bring in a democratically elected administration is delayed.
Officials from the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC), the regional body that supervises the implementation of the peace accord, stated this week that delays in meeting some of the promises in the 2018 agreement might cause the nation to miss its transition timetables.
According to Maj-Gen (Rtd) Charles Tai Gituai, temporary head of the R-JMEC, a group established by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the delay might lead to further war (Igad).
On Monday, Maj-Gen (Rtd) Gituai spoke at the Fifth Governor’s Forum in Juba, a session of senior regional administration leaders working under the government of national unity.
The forum was established after the 2018 peace accord reached by President Salva Kiir, his former deputy Riek Machar, and other armed factions.
“Difficulties continue in several theme areas, despite development.” “Too much time has passed,” he added. “With just 15 months till the conclusion of the Transitional Period, certain crucial tasks remain unfinished.”
The most important step is preparing for an election in which the whole public will vote. Other topics include the creation of a new Constitution, the consolidation of security forces, and judicial reform.
President Salva Kiir told the UN Security Council this week that he is ready for the 2023 elections, as required in the 2018 IGAD-mediated peace accord.
“The Revitalized Peace Agreement is being implemented slowly. “We are committed to see it through,” President Kiir added.
However, Mr Machar, the first vice president, said that the integrity of the elections would be jeopardized unless security procedures are put in place.
“In order for South Sudan to have fair, free, and transparent elections, we need security forces that will safeguard the state and its people while not interfering with the electoral process.” If we want to have elections, we must finish the security arrangements as soon as feasible,” Mr Machar added.
However, fifth vice president Rebecca Nyandeng said that the country’s focus should be humanitarian solutions rather than elections.
“People speak about elections; you can’t prepare for elections until we get our people out of refugee camps and our people out of displaced camps settled,” she said.
Before the election date was extended to 2023, the Pre-Transitional Period was already extended twice.
“I strongly urge you to see the Constitution-making and future election processes as crucial milestones on the path to peace and stability,” said Nicholas Haysom, the UN Secretary-Special General’s Representative for South Sudan.
“While the parties have aligned over political power-sharing criteria, it is also critical that they work to advance transitional security arrangements.” “There is now a joint responsibility to finalize a clear command and control structure for the graduation and deployment of the required united troops,” Mr Haysom said at the event.
Officials from the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC), the regional body that supervises the implementation of the peace accord, stated this week that delays in meeting some of the promises in the 2018 agreement might cause the nation to miss its transition timetables.
And that, according to Maj-Gen (Rtd) Charles Tai Gituai, temporary head of the R-JMEC, a body established by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, may easily usher in a new era of strife (IGAD).
Maj-Gen (Rtd) Gituai spoke in Juba during the Fifth Governor’s Forum, a gathering of key regional administration chiefs working under the government of national unity, which was formed following the 2018 peace agreement between President Salva Kiir, his former nemesis Riek Machar, and other armed groups.
“The revised agreement’s implementation speed is sluggish, and time is running out, with essential activities falling behind the agreed-upon dates.” Despite improvement in certain areas, obstacles remain. Too much time has passed. “The implementation is moving slowly, and time is running out,” he remarked.
“Within the agreement’s present timetables, we have just 15 months till the conclusion of the Transitional Period, and yet certain extremely crucial tasks remain unresolved,” he continued.
There are various steps of executing the peace agreement that are still outstanding, but the most important is preparation for an election in which the people will participate. Other challenges include the creation of a new constitution, the consolidation of security forces, and the beginning of judicial reforms.
President Salva Kiir indicated this week in a UN Security Council speech that he is prepared for the envisaged 2023 elections outlined in the 2018 IGAD-mediated peace accord.
“The Revitalized Peace Agreement is being implemented slowly.” “We are committed to see it through,” President Kiir added.
However, First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar claims that the integrity of the elections would be jeopardized unless security procedures are put in place.
“In order for South Sudan to have fair, free, and transparent elections, we need security forces that will safeguard the state and its people while not interfering with the electoral process.” If we want to have elections, we must finish the security arrangements as soon as feasible,” Mr Machar added.
Fifth Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng, on the other hand, said that the country’s priority should be security and humanitarian responses, rather than elections.
“People speak about elections; you can’t prepare for elections unless we get our people from refugee camps and displaced camps to be established,” Ms. Nyandeng added.
South Sudan will be anticipated to hold its first democratic general election as a sovereign state at the conclusion of the transitional phase, as stipulated in the September 2018 renewed peace deal. Many parts of the 2018 peace agreement should have been implemented by now, according to the implementation matrix. However, the vast majority of the ambitious changes have yet to be launched or implemented.
Before the election date was extended to 2023, the Pre-Transitional Period was already extended twice.
“I strongly urge you to see the constitution-making and approaching election processes as critical milestones on the path to peace and stability.” A feeling of urgency, rather than a “business-as-usual attitude,” is essential, according to Nicholas Haysom, the UN Secretary-Special General’s Representative to South Sudan.
“While the Parties have aligned behind political power-sharing goals, it is also critical that they work to advance the Transitional Security Arrangements.” “There is now a joint responsibility to create a clear command and control structure for the graduation and deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces,” Mr Haysom said last week at the Governor’s workshop.
