Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, interim chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission [R-JMEC]. |File photo|.
South Sudan’s Interim Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai signaled insufficient progress in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement signed in 2018 to bring to an end the conflict sparked by power struggles among the prominent political elites in 2013 and 2016.
Addressing the transitional national legislative assembly, Charles Tai warned that failure to move forward on the key outstanding chapters of the peace agreement could hinder the prospects for upcoming general elections scheduled for 22 December this year.
“There has been insufficient progress made in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement 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.
“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,” he added.
Similarly, the level of resources made available to these institutions falls well short of their proposed budgets, hampering their ability to complete the required tasks in line with the revitalized peace agreement, he said.
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.
He hoped that the dialogue between the parties to the agreement would bring clarity on the best way forward on the prospects of general elections as scheduled.
