Honourable Members, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon!

1.   As Interim Chairperson of RJMEC, it is my responsibility to communicate the outcome of today’s Extraordinary plenary.

2.   You, the RJMEC members, have deliberated and pronounced yourselves on the Agreement on the Roadmap to a Peaceful and Democratic end to the Transitional Period of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.’ 

3.   Two questions were asked. The first:

“Do you as RJMEC members wish to make a decision on the extension of the Transitional Period today, or after three (03) months to give the RTGoNU time for consultations with the citizens before any extension? 

35 voted in favour of making the decision today, while 3 voted in favour of extending by three months. 4 members did not vote. 

On the second question:

“Do you as RJMEC Members Consent or Not Consent to the extension of the Transitional Period, effective 23rd February 2023 to 22nd February 2025?” 

4.   The result was as follows: 37 out of 42 members present today voted in favour, 4 did not vote while one was absent. 

5.   Article 8.4 of the R-ARCSS requires that at least two-thirds of the voting members consent to an amendment.  Therefore, according to the procedures set out in the Revitalised Agreement, the motion is CARRIED.

6.   The proposed amendment to Article 1.1.2, which extends the Transitional Period and term of RTGoNU until 22nd February 2025, now requires ratification by the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislature, according to the constitutional amendment procedures set out in the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan - TCRSS, 2011 (as amended).

7.   As a next step, I will be submitting our decision and the accompanying resolution to the RTGoNU to consider RJMEC’s position and recommendation in this regard. Amongst the key observations made are as follows: 

• The new spirit of cooperation exhibited by the Parties in the agreement on the Roadmap, ending of SPLM/A-IO boycott of the Reconstituted TNLA, graduation of the first batch of the Necessary Unified Forces, as well as recent breakthroughs achieved in the meetings of the Presidency is welcomed. 

8.   I would like to encourage the Parties to continuously dialogue, work together to enhance the rebuilding of trust and confidence in the peace process, by taking concrete steps to address all the key impediments to progress in the implementation of the Agreement.

9.   We identified a number of tasks in the Roadmap, whose deadlines have already passed, and in this regard I wish to urge the RTGoNU to review and update the timelines in the Implementation Matrix contained in the Annex of the Roadmap for tasks whose timelines have already passed prior to its submission to the reconstituted TNLA.

10.        About the concerns expressed over the limited nature of the consultations conducted prior to the development of the Roadmap, I  urge the RTGoNU Parties to implement the Roadmap in an inclusive manner, including by continuously consulting with all relevant stakeholders, and civil society actors, during its implementation. 

11.        Finally, I urge the RTGoNU to demonstrate full and unwavering political will and commitment to implement all the priority tasks set out in the Roadmap, in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Revitalised Peace Agreement and to implement additional interim measures, including an economic recovery plan to improve the current business environment.

I Thank You.