By William Madouk Garang
I am disappointed with the sluggish implementation of the revitalized peace agreement as September 12, marked the fourth anniversary of the signing of Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflicts in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Mr. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) was reacting to the fourth anniversary (birthday) of the Revitalized Agreement, asserting that only 25 percent was implemented.
“I am so disappointed, why I am so disappointed is that the parties are very slow in implementing the revitalized peace agreement,” Yakani told No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper.
“As we are today marking the fourth anniversary, it’s only less than 25 percent of the agreement that is implemented, over 75 or something beyond seventy is not implemented,” he added.
He cited that leaders in Juba keep promising people that they will not return the country back to war again but Citizens in Upper Nile State are suffering.
“In states like Upper Nile State, the permanent ceasefire is not being felt by our citizens because they are still facing crisis with forces of Simon Gatwech and Johnson Olony,” he lamented.
Yakani said the extended period of 24 months through roadmap must see reforms, laws relating to security and economic sector passed plus reconstitution of key institutions such as judiciary among others.
“As we are marking the fourth anniversary of R-ARCSS, I call upon the politicians of the parties that are signatories to R-ARCSS to really focus on genuine and speedy implementation of the revitalized peace agreement,” he continued.
The activist narrated that it’s disgrace to parties because till now there is no civic space and its peace monitoring body – R-JMEC called on government to offer free civic space.
“I am not so happy until I see that we are able to deliver key milestone of the agreement”.
“At least between now and September 21st which is the International Peace Day, let them reconstitute some of the institutions, let them pass some of the laws and let them roll phase-two of the unified forces to the training centers,” Yakani underlined.
Key pending tasks to execute during the roadmap, include; drafting of a permanent constitution, population census, repatriation of IDPs and refugees, reconstituting the national electoral commission and deployment of phase two of unified forces, this among others are pre-requisites for the conduct of free and fair election.