Communication Office

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Thursday, 10 August, 2023, Juba, South Sudan

RJMEC HOLDS MONTHLY MEETING ONE YEAR AFTER ROADMAP ENDORSED; MANY MILESTONES STILL TO BE ACHIEVED

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) on Thursday 10 August, 2023, convened its 31st monthly meeting in Juba.

Speaking during the opening of meeting, the RJMEC Interim Chairperson, Ambassador Major General Charles Tai Gituai, said that this meeting marks the first anniversary of the endorsement of the Roadmap by the Parties, and therefore “we should take stock on what has been achieved, what is pending, and what needs to be done in the remaining time of the extended Transitional Period.”

Noting that elections are due in December 2024 according to the Roadmap, the RJMEC Chair then gave a chapter by chapter assessment of the critical pending tasks, reaching the conclusion that “it is evident that many milestones are still to be achieved, and yet it is barely 16 months away from elections.”

Amb. Gituai informed the meeting: “Regarding preparations for elections, in addition to the amendment of the national election law and reconstitution of the National Elections Commission,  all the other tasks, including the reconstitution of the Political Parties Council, and establishment of election management structures at the sub-national levels, are still pending.” Furthermore, regarding the unification of forces, the RJMEC Chair added, phase one of the Necessary Unified Forces has graduated but not yet been redeployed, and phase 2 is yet to commence.

With this in mind, Amb. Gituai invited the RJMEC members present to reflect on whether the implementation of the critical pending tasks is on track, and at the appropriate pace? Further, the RJMEC Chair asked, “will the pre-requisites for free and fair elections be implemented within timelines? And how?”

In closing, the RJMEC Chair gave his recommendations regarding key elections-related tasks, given the time remaining.

a)    expedite the reconstitution of the Political Parties Council and the National Constitutional Review Commission;

b)    expedite the enactment by the Transitional National Legislature of the National Elections Act, paving the way for the reconstitution of a credible and impartial National Elections Commission;

c)    expedite the completion of the unification of forces, and provide adequate resources to the Security Mechanisms;

d)    provide timely and sufficient resources for the implementation of all the critical pending tasks of the Revitalised Agreement;

e)    encourage the expansion of political and civic space for all South Sudanese to take part in the conversations surrounding their participation in the political process; and

f)    ensure that women’s representation in the political process attains minimum 35%, including in the Constitution-making bodies.