The Chairman of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) Maj. Gen Charles Tai Gituai on Thursday called on the peace parties to speed up reconstitution of the Political Parties Council.
The political parties council is charged with registration of political parties ahead of national elections slated for December 2024.
“Operationalize all the enacted laws, particularly those related to the permanent constitution and elections processes to expedite the reconstitution of the Political Parties Council,” Gituai said during RJMEC monthly meeting held in Juba.
Gituai stressed the need for timely reconstitution of political parties’ council to help in protecting political space.
He also urged the parties to fast-track the drafting of the new constitution, stressing that it will provide legal framework for the conduct of election.
Gituai also reminded the parties to the 2018 revitalized peace agreement to establish bodies required under the Constitution-Making Process Act 2022, and the enactment of the National Elections Bill.
He said reconstitution of Political Parties Council and the National Elections Commission is lagging behind.
“For example, according to the Roadmap by now both the Political Parties Council and the National Elections Commission should have been reconstituted,” Gituai said.
“These are two critical bodies required for the process of conducting credible elections. Further, the restructuring and reconstitution of the various commissions and institutions at national level should also have been completed by now.”
According to the enacted Political Parties Act, a political party is required to have at least 500 members from each of the states in order to be eligible for registration.
