Troika boycott launch S. Sudan’s transitional period roadmap
August 4, 2022 (JUBA) – Members of the Troika nations vowed to boycott Thursday’s launch of a roadmap to extend South Sudan’s transitional period roadmap for 24 months, citing lack of inclusivity in the entire process.
The Troika nations comprise of the United States, United Kingdom and Norway.
Late last month, South Sudan President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar agreed to extend the lifespan of the revitalized peace deal, amid concerns that key benchmarks in the accord are still unimplemented.
“While we understand that your transitional government is discussing a roadmap to deliver the many outstanding provisions of the revitalized agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, we regret that we are unable to attend the function at the freedom hall ]tomorrow [August 4, 2022) at ambassador or charge de affairs. This is because we understand that all the relevant parties to the R-ARCSS [Agreement on Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan] have not been included in consultations about the contents of the roadmaps and the extension to the transition period,” partly reads the Troika’s statement.
The September 2018 peace agreement requires that all the signatories to the accord be consulted should there be any amendment to its provisions.
“Therefore, we are writing to you personally to express our profound concern that fully inclusive consultation must take place with the civil society, faith-based groups, business, women groups, your representatives, eminent persons, and international partners before the R-ARCSS is amended. We want to you this privately in advance of having to say anything publicly”, noted the statement issued on Wednesday.
A letter from South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs ministry had invited members of the country’s diplomatic corps, head of the United Nations mission in the country (UNMISS) and other international organizations to attend the function which took place at Freedom hall in the capital, Juba on Thursday.
The Troika, in the statement extended to Sudan Tribune, also wondered whether the current extension of the transitional period makes any difference, citing lack of guarantees to support any new extension without demonstrating strong political will to implement the September 2018 accord signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“Whether a roadmap and an extension are seen legitimate by the people of South Sudan and the international community will depend on the inclusive consultation process. Our position will therefore need to be informed by whether such consultations take place. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to support a roadmap or an extension in other circumstances,” stressed the statement.
It added, “The roadmap must demonstrate how another extension would differ from the previous ones and include steps for clear progress in setting up the institutions and mechanism necessary to hold elections”.
Until now, however, some important bills, including the political parties act, the review, and the amendment of the security to be approved by the parliament are still a source of contention among parties to the agreement.
In June, members of the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) led by Machar have continued their boycott of parliamentary proceedings over what they described as “lack of consensus to agree on the procedures to pass bills”.
Other pending issues include, the need to create a conducive atmosphere to attract the return of displaced persons to their homes and facilitate the repatriation of refugees in neighboring countries as well as the need to conduct household and population census before elections are conducted.
(ST)