South Sudan’s National Constitution Amendment Committee (NCAC) on Monday commenced review of the Election Act 2012 under the 2018 revitalized peace deal.
Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, Chairman of the Revitalized Joint Monitoring Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) said the review of the proposed amendments are aimed at ensuring the National Election Act conforms to the peace deal.
“I urge all the participants to seize this opportunity, to review and improve the proposed amendments, and to ensure that the amended National Election Act will not only conform to the Revitalized Peace Agreement,” Gituai said during stakeholder’s validation meeting in Juba.
Gichira Kibara, NCAC Chairperson said they are aiming at coming up with best provisions for conduct of democratic, free and fair elections at end of extended transitional period.
“It is very important that we all look at provisions of the law carefully so that we can have best provisions to produce best elections,” Kibara said.
“The elections that will be taking place at least 60-days before end of transitional period, is a critical elections for choosing the leadership and also transiting the country to the next dimension,” he disclosed.
Mary Ayen Majok, Deputy Speaker for Council of States, called for inclusion of South Sudan lawmakers in NCAC.
“I think this inclusivity will make it easier like when these documents come to parliament and we are sure that in all stages we have participated and our views are there,” Majok said.
Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol, Chairperson of National Election Commission, said the law will pave way for reconstitution of the commission.
“After the amendment of the act, other issues which are a very constitutional and very important with peace will followed. Among them will be the need for reconstitution of the commission,” Kacuol said.
NCAC is the body mandated by the 2018 peace deal to review and amend fundamental laws to ensure reforms.
South Sudan political parties were meant to hold election by February 2023, but this was extended till 2025 after the parties failed to meet the deadline for implementing all key targets in the 2018 peace deal.
