RJMEC: Delays in critical mission execution threaten 2024 elections

August 7, 2024 (Juba) – The Chairman of the South Sudan Peace Monitoring Body (RJEMC), General Charles Tai Gituai, said on Tuesday that delays in the implementation of key tasks could jeopardize the upcoming elections.

Speaking at the launch of the RJMEC quarterly report, Githuai said there was a need to make rapid progress on key issues such as drafting a permanent constitution, improving the electoral process and achieving unity of force.

The committee warned that if these actions are not taken promptly, the elections could face significant obstacles.

“According to the RJMEC’s assessment, insufficient progress has been made in the implementation of the peace agreement during the reporting period,” Githuay said, adding that “key tasks such as the formulation of a permanent constitution and the reunification of forces are at roughly the same stage as at the end of the previous period.”

The RJMEC chairman called on all parties to the agreement to engage in dialogue on the next steps to hold elections.

In particular, he called on all parties to accept the Toumani Initiative and achieve comprehensive peace in the country.

“The parties to the agreement and relevant stakeholders should engage in dialogue in a spirit of collegiality to explore the best way to hold elections and provide the people of South Sudan with a detailed plan for the implementation of the road map and accept the Toumani Initiative as a means to achieve peace,” Gituai stressed.

However, the Chairperson expressed concern that limited budget would affect the implementation of key tasks in the September 2018 peace agreement.

“With elections scheduled for December 2024, it is hoped that dialogue between the parties will bring hope and clarity. Importantly, some progress has been made in establishing key institutions responsible for developing the constitution and conducting elections,” he said, adding that “much more needs to be done to enable them to fully discharge their responsibilities. Likewise, the resources available to these institutions are lower than the proposed budget, hampering their ability to fulfil the tasks required.”

Observers warn that the situation in South Sudan remains unstable and there are still many obstacles to overcome before holding its first post-independence elections.

(English stone)