Communication Office

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Tuesday, 06 August 2024

FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT CRITICAL TASKS OF THE R-ARCSS HINDERS THE PROSPECTS OF FREE, FAIR AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) today Tuesday August 6, 2024, addressed the reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA). 

In his address delievered pursuant to Article 7.9 of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), RJMEC Chairperson, Amb. Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai highlighted “insufficient progress” made in implementation of the Agreement during the reporting period, which was the second quarter of 2024.

“In RJMEC’s assessment, there has been insufficient progress made in implementation of the R-ARCSS during the reporting period. Key tasks, such as the permanent constitution making, preparations for elections, and the unification of forces, remain largely at the same stage as they were at the end of the previous quarter,” he said. 

The Chairperson further cautioned that failure to move forward on these key aspects of the implementation hinders the prospects of holding of elections, scheduled for at the end of the Transitional Period. 

“However, while it is encouraging that at least partial funding has been availed to the National Elections Commission (NEC), the Political Parties Council (PPC) and the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC), key institutions that will play major roles in the constitution and election processes, more resources are needed.”

Similarly, the level of resources made available to these institutions fall well short of their proposed budgets, hampering their ability to complete the required tasks in line with the R-ARCSS, he said. 

Further, Amb. Gituai stressed the need “for a people-led and a people-owned permanent constitution made in accordance with provisions of the Constitution Making Process Act 2022,” as the basis to guide the conduct of a credible free, fair and peaceful election at the end of the Transitional Period. 

In his conclusion, with elections scheduled for December, Amb. Gituai said it is hoped that the dialogue by the Parties to the Agreement will bring clarity on the best way forward.