The Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, Edmund Yakani has urged the forthcoming African Union Head of States and Government to really make concrete and genuine decisions on the South Sudan political transitional process.
“Community Empowerment for Progress Organization view this African Union head of states and government summit critical for Africa Union leadership to make some concrete decision on the political transitional process in South Sudan since on 22nd February, 2023 the officials transitional period for the implementation of the R-ARCSS is ending while beginning of the extended 24 months for implementing the pending tasks of the R-ARCSS ,“ Yakani said in a statement issued in Juba on Wednesday.
From 18-19 February 2023 the 36th ordinary Session of the AU Assembly (Heads of State and Government Session) will be held in Ethiopia city of Addis Ababa.
“The extended 24 months will not make any big difference that may constitute positive political transition in South Sudan without effective influence from AU, UN and IGAD leadership on regular bases. The high deficit in trust and confidence among the parties’ signatories to the R-ARCSS is totally hindering genuine and timely implementation of the R-ARCSS pending tasks,” it said.
Yakani said the AU should take decision on the immediate redeployment of the graduated unified forces before the end of February, 2023 and also demand speeding up of training, graduation and redeployment of the second batch of the unified forces before the end May, 2023.
He added that the AU summit should request the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) head of states and government to hold summit on South Sudan political transitional process by March, 2023.
“The AU 18-19 February, 2023 head of states and governments should take concrete decision on the following, immediate reconstitution of political transitional institutions namely Political Parties Council, National Constitutional Review Commission and National Election Commission including the formation of the Constitutional Drafting Committee, Immediate establishment of the transitional justice institutions as enshrined in chapter 5 of the R-RACSS,” it noted.
It called on AU to have field visit to South Sudan with specific agenda that focuses on influencing the parties for genuine implementation of the pending tasks of the R-ARCSS in the extended period of the 24 months.
