In his opening remarks at the meeting, RJMEC Interim Chairperson Maj. Gen. Amb. Charles Tai Gituai said that in the five years since the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) was signed in 2018, “the Parties to the R-ARCSS have stayed the course of peace.”

However, with 14 months until the elections, Amb. Gituai said, “a lot of work still remains to be done to complete the critical pending tasks necessary to effect South Sudan’s democratic transition”, and continued,“it is imperative for the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) to provide to the people of South Sudan clarity on election preparedness.” 

The RJMEC Chairperson underlined that, “The lack of sufficient progress and clarity on elections-preparedness, constitution-making, or unification of forces, each of which is a critical pre-condition for smooth and successful elections, is creating uncertainty.”

Furthermore, the Interim Chairperson emphasised the need to conduct civic education, fast-track the permanent constitution-making process and promote political and civic space to allow citizens to exercise their democratic rights. As such, Amb. Gituai said, “it is incumbent on the country’s leadership to consolidate the peace dividends to all its diverse communities through a democratic transition.” 

Amb. Gituai noted the passage of National Elections Act 2012 (Amendment) Bill 2023 by the reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), and its subsequent assent by the President, calling it a “an important step in realising the democratic aspirations of the people of South Sudan.”

In his recommendations to the meeting, he called on the Parties to the Agreement to dialogue among themselves and agree on the practical steps to fast-track the implementation of the Roadmap to ensure the timely conduct of elections, and ensure that women’s representation in the political process attains the minimum 35% threshold, including in the Constitution-making bodies and the other institutions and commissions being reconstituted.

He also called for completion of the unification and redeployment of forces and further urged the RTGoNU to provide adequate resources to the Security Mechanisms.

While updating the participants on his recent diplomatic engagements with the international community, Amb. Gituai said, it is “evident that there is much goodwill to support South Sudan in the pursuit of sustainable peace and development.”

“Therefore, expectations are that the Parties will adhere to the Agreement, increase the pace of implementation and demonstrate tangible progress in the completion of the critical pending tasks.”