With time fast running out, very little clarity on elections: RJMEC
June 27, 2024 (JUBA) – The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has expressed concerns over the limited clarity on elections, with very little time left for the polls scheduled for December.
On Thursday, the peace monitors convened its 36th monthly plenary in Juba to discuss the position of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity) and Parties over the conduct of elections as scheduled.
At the meeting, the RJMEC chairperson Amb. Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai gave a detailed status of implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
“Also, critical election related tasks remain outstanding and time is fast running out,” he remarked.
Amb Gituai stressed the importance of a permanent constitution, saying the process should achieve a people-led and people owned constitution;
“The making of ‘a people led, and people owned permanent constitution’ within the Transitional Period is one of the cardinal promises made by the Parties to the Revitalized Peace Agreement to the people of South Sudan and this constitutional moment should not be lost,” he remarked.
The Chairperson of RJMEC further emphasized the need for sustained inter-party dialogue in a collegial manner, building of consensus amongst the parties and the stakeholders on the way forward on elections and the provision of regular updates to the public on the progress of the dialogue.
He said requisite resources and logistics to the agreement institutions and mechanisms to be availed to enable them to discharge their mandates.
Also recommended is fast-tracking the passing of all pending bills and operationalization of those already enacted by the country’s national assembly. This is in addition to calls for the complete unification of the mid-level command echelon, redeployment of the unified forces and commence Phase II and Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR).
“I would like to underscore the importance of continuous implementation of the R-ARCSS tasks, irrespective of the ongoing inter-party dialogue and the Nairobi talks. Much work remains to be done and no time should be lost going forward,” concluded Amb Gituai.
{ST)