Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, interim chairperson of Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission. |Credit: UN|.
Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai virtually briefed the United Nations Security Council on the prospects of South Sudan’s first-ever elections, asserting that an inter-party Committee reviewed the Roadmap implementation, and submitted its report to the Principals, on 13 August.
He said the parties to the agreement by consensus have tasked the relevant institutions and the inter-party Committee to develop a realistic timetable for elections.
“It is expected that the timetable will be accompanied by a budget and guaranteed funding,” he added.
In reviewing the status of implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement, Gituai outlined some key challenges that have slowed down progress, including insufficient political will, trust deficit among the parties, capacity gaps, and persistent levels of inter-communal violence in the States.
Additionally, he said, “all the Agreement institutions and mechanisms have insufficient and unpredictable funding which is hampering their work.”
Lastly, Amb. Gituai acknowledged that the revitalised agreement has contributed to relative peace, inclusive governance structures, and the ongoing legal, security, and economic reforms in the Republic of South Sudan.
As such, he said: “It is evident that the Revitalised Agreement remains the most viable blueprint and transformative framework for achieving enduring peace and prosperity.”
“I therefore appeal to this Council to remain seized of the peace process in South Sudan and to encourage the international community to mobilise resources and political support for full implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan,” Gituai concluded.
