Peace body urges R-TGoNU to commit during transition period
March 30, 2023 (JUBA) – The body monitoring the peace process (R-JMEC) has urged the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) to show action in its commitment during the transitional period.
The peace monitoring body convened its 28th monthly meeting in the capital, Juba Thursday.
Speaking during the meeting, RJMEC Chairperson Amb. Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai said a lot of work remains to be done if the roadmap timelines are to be adhered to as promised.
Gituai said no progress has been made in the reconstitution of the Political Parties Council, despite the law having been enacted over 8 months ago.
He said the reconstitution of the Council is critical in paving way for the registration of political parties, further adding that the enactment of the National Elections Act and its operationalization is way behind schedule.
“As a result of these delays, all the elections-related tasks including the establishment and functioning of institutions that drive the elections process, are behind schedule,” said Gituai.
The Chairperson of R-MEC commended the recent progress made in the unification of the middle and lower levels of command of the necessary unified forces, where the parties agreed on a responsibility sharing ratio of 60:30:10 to South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSDPF), armed opposition (SPLA-IO) and South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) respectively.
“However, the forces which graduated during Phase I are still in training centers, and their delayed redeployment has hindered the commencement of Phase II NUF training,” he remarked.
On the humanitarian front, RJMEC Chairperson noted that access and safety of humanitarian workers, goods, and assets remain a challenge.
“These are matters that the RTGoNU should urgently address including by providing security along humanitarian corridors, protecting humanitarian workers and their assets and holding perpetrators to account,” said Gituai.
In his recommendations, Gituai urged the RTGoNU to continue to consult in the spirit of collegial collaboration and consensus in an attempt to address emerging issues during implementation of the agreement.
He reiterated the need for the provision of adequate and predictable funding for the implementation of the critical pending tasks of the Agreement, particularly, the Constitution Making and Electoral processes and the completion of the unification of forces and operationalization of all the enacted laws.
(ST)