As time passes, election results remain unclear: RJMEC

27 June 2024 (Juba) – The reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has expressed concern over the lack of clarity on election results, with time running out for the elections originally scheduled for December.

On Thursday, the peace observers held their 36th monthly plenary meeting in Juba to discuss the positions of the Transitional Government of National Unity and political parties on holding the planned elections.

At the meeting, RJMEC Chairman Major General Charles Tai Gituai gave a detailed briefing on the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on Conflict Resolution in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

“Moreover, critical election-related tasks remain to be completed and time is running out,” he commented.

Ambassador Gituai stressed the importance of a permanent constitution and said the process should lead to a people-led and people-owned constitution;

He pointed out: “The formulation of a ‘people-led and people-owned permanent constitution’ during the transition period is one of the fundamental commitments made by the parties to the Revitalized Peace Agreement to the people of South Sudan. This constitutional opportunity should not be missed.”

The RJMEC Chairman further stressed the need for continuous inter-party dialogue in a collegial manner to build consensus among the parties and stakeholders on the way forward for the elections and to keep the public regularly informed on the progress of the dialogue.

He said the agreed institutions and mechanisms would be provided with the necessary resources and logistics to enable them to carry out their duties.

It also recommended expediting the passage of all pending bills and implementing the bills already passed by the country’s National Assembly. In addition, it called for the complete unification of the middle echelons of command, the redeployment of the joint forces and the start of the second phase and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR).

“I would like to stress that it is very important to continue the R-ARCSS mission regardless of the ongoing party dialogue and Nairobi talks. There is still much work to be done and no time should be wasted in the future,” Ambassador Gituai concluded.

{English Stone)