By Bida Elly David
A Civil Society activist has appealed to political parties involved on the roadmap process to table the document before peace monitoring body R-JMEC for comprehensive reaction from the women leaders, civil society organizations among others to clear off doubts that may arise later.
Speaking to No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper yesterday, Edmund Yakani the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization said comprehensive deliberation on the roadmap through Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) would help clear off skeptical thoughts of the people.
“My appeal to the parties involved in the transitional revitalized agreement to develop the roadmap with the spirit found within the agreement through the principles of inclusivity making sure that everybody has a say over the content of the roadmap they are developing.” “It should be in accordance with the provisions provided by the revitalized agreement which is Article 8.4 providing how amendment would be done,’’ Yakani said.
He reiterated that the same article has mandated amendment of the roadmap by the Council of Ministers through consensus and incase the consensus could not breach, then the two third’s majority through voting would be exercised.
He echoed that after its deliberation by the Council of ministers through the affirmative consensus, then it would be liable to pass for wide-ranging discussion by the parliament to endorse the amendment that were adopted from the Council as well as R-JMEC plenary.
“If the Council of Ministers succeeds in passing through the roadmap, they will then proceed to R-JMEC because the assembly is a combination of stakeholders. So discussing it at R-JMEC level becomes inclusive in the sense that civil society will have a voice, women will have a voice, youth will react, African Union and IGAD will also have a voice and diplomatic communities as donors will have also a say at that level” the activist stressed. “If it is passed by R-JMEC, the next level will be our parliament to endorse the amendment that are attached and adopted in the Council of Ministers and R-JMEC general assembly”.
However, Yakani emphasized that any agreement reached on the roadmap at the presidency should not contradict and undermine the provided process as per the article 8.4 of the R-ARCSS.
He said that the ownership of the roadmap depended on how much inclusive are people engaged in it and should not take long time spending the lifespan of the treaty.
The CEPO’s Executive Director urged the parties involved in the agreement to follow the particular process of the roadmap as required by the provision of the agreement per article 8.4 of the revitalized peace agreement.