RJMEC says poor election preparations lead to tensions in South Sudan

8 August 2024 (Juba) – With just five months left before South Sudan’s elections, poor electoral preparations and lack of progress in unifying forces are causing anxiety among the population, peace observers said on Thursday.

The Chairman of the reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), Ambassador Major General Charles Tai Gituai, speaks before the 37 members of the Commission^day Monthly meetings are held in the capital, Juba.

“With only five months left until the elections scheduled in the roadmap, South Sudanese are anxious due to the lack of preparations for the elections and the lack of progress in unifying their forces,” he said.

The RJMEC President therefore welcomed the report of the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Martin Elia Lomuro, and the Bureau is expected to meet on Wednesday, August 14, to discuss the way forward.

In an update on the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the Chairperson said the permanent ceasefire will continue to hold.

“However, occasional incidents of inter-communal violence in areas such as Unity, Jonglei and Lakes States remain a cause for concern,” he said.

The RJMEC Chairman also apprised the RJMEC members on the full deployment of the graduated troops and the lack of funds for the commencement of the second phase of training of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF).

“As troops wait at training centres and cantonment camps, they lack food, medicine, shelter and clean water. As a result, most troops leave their bases to search for food and other necessities. What also remains to be accomplished is the unification of the middle echelons of command at the NUF.”

Ambassador Gituai called on the Transitional Government for Revitalization of National Unity (RTGoNU) to provide the necessary resources and logistics to the agreed institutions and mechanisms to enable them to carry out their duties, including completing the redeployment of the unified forces.

He further encouraged the parties to the agreement to take fully into account the minimum threshold of 35 per cent representation of women in executive and other decision-making bodies stipulated in the Revitalized Agreement.

The RJMEC chairman had earlier warned that delays in the execution of key tasks could jeopardize the upcoming elections and stressed the need for rapid progress on key issues such as drafting a permanent constitution, improving the electoral process and achieving unity of force.

The committee noted that if these actions are not taken in a timely manner, the elections could face significant obstacles.

Observers say the situation in South Sudan remains serious and there are still many obstacles to overcome before holding the first election since independence.

(English stone)