The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) on South Sudan has attributed the delayed implementation of the election plan on lack of funding and resources.
Addressing the 9855th sitting of the United Nations Security Council in New York on Wednesday, February 5 RJMEC Interim Chairperson, Amb. Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai said the immediate requirements are demonstration of political will and provision of funding for the agreement institutions and mechanisms.
Gituai gave the address about two weeks to the start of the extension period after South Sudan failed to hold elections in December as agreed in its peace agreement. Also required “with a sense of urgency” he said, are the harmonisation of the work plans of the National Elections Commission (NEC) and National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC), and completion of the unification of forces.”
In terms of the Permanent Ceasefire and the Transitional Security Arrangements, Amb. Gituai reported that “recent skirmishes in Western Equatoria State between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and SPLM/A-IO over the removal of illegal checkpoints are concerning.”
“Persistent levels of intercommunal violence in some parts of the country continue to create disruption, and anxiety and is unsettling,” he said.
The RJMEC boss added that other challenges facing the implementation of the peace agreement include low levels of political will and trust deficit among the Parties to the Agreement, and lack of predictable funding.
“Furthermore, capacity gaps and continued levels of intercommunal violence in the states slow the progress in implementation,” he said.
With oil being one of the key revenue streams for South Sudan. Gituai noted that,” Oil, the country’s main source of foreign earnings was disrupted in the second quarter of 2024 because of the conflict in the Republic of Sudan. The main pipeline transporting about 60% of crude to Port Sudan that was damaged is yet to be repaired. Consequently, revenue earnings fell considerably.”
On the ongoing Tumaini process in Nairobi, Kenya, Amb. Gituai said:“ The people of South Sudan are looking forward to a positive outcome of these talks and hoping that it will bring practical and enhanced transformative approaches in addressing the root causes of conflict, and will hasten the implementation of the Peace Agreement.”
Amb. Gituai appealed to the Council to remain seized of the peace process in South Sudan, as it enters critical phase of the extended transitional period, and to encourage the international community to mobilise resources and political support to help South Sudan conduct its first democratic elections in December 2026.
