The African Union Mission in South Sudan (AUMISS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Thursday urged the transitional unity government to commit and put the necessary mechanisms, guarantees, and resources in place that can ensure the timely and full implementation of outstanding peace tasks.
They said in a joint statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan that it has been necessary to extend the transitional period of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement for a second time due to the failure to implement outstanding critical benchmarks.
“Regrettably, none of these extensions, since the R-ARCSS was signed on 12 September 2018, have helped to achieve their objectives,” they said.
They urged South Sudan’s leaders to put the interests of the nation and its people first, rebuild public trust and confidence, and engage and accommodate all voices and viewpoints, including non-signatory parties who continue to participate in the Tumaini Initiative talks in Nairobi, adding these actions when undertaken will break the perpetual cycle of transitions in South Sudan, and pave the way towards an inclusive and sustainable peace.
“However, we also recognize that the decision was reached through dialogue and consensus and expect this same approach to continue to ensure the full implementation of the R-ARCSS that is required to give the people of South Sudan the opportunity they deserve to elect their leaders,” they said.
The parties in the transitional unity government on September 13, 2024, decided to delay elections and extend the transitional period for another two years, which was supposed to end with the conduct of elections on December 22nd, 2024.
The transitional period of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) will now end in February 2027.
The government said the decision was taken based on recommendations from the election-related institutions and the security sector, which stressed that the additional time would allow for the completion of essential peace tasks such as the enactment of the permanent constitution, unification of forces, and the return of refugees before the next elections.
AUMISS, IGAD, and UNMISS underscored their ongoing commitment to work together and support all efforts to avoid a return to widespread violence, by completing a peaceful transition towards durable peace and inclusive governance through free, fair, and credible elections.
