By Ephraim Modi Duku Sokiri
Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Mr. Edmond Yakani has called for expeditious implementation of the remaining key tasks in the peace roadmap saying it does not need much resource for implementation.
Yakani who also heads the East African Civil Society Organization Forum (EACSOF) stressed that South Sudanese deserves nothing less than total implementation of the roadmap in letter and spirit in order to enjoy peace dividends.
He told No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper that the implementation of the outstanding tasks only necessitates the key principals to the agreement to meet, discuss and agree upon on the next step.
“Act on these tasks that does not require a single dollar, just require your meeting in your offices faces and agree and reaching a decision and issuing a presidential decree, establishment and reconstitution of key institution that are key in relation to the constitution making process in our country and realization of the country, please we are pleading,” he appealed.
Yakani said South Sudan has spent six months of the 24 months of the roadmap deprived of attaining the imminent assignments that worries the citizens of the country.
“As we speak now, we have lost six months of the twenty-four months without delivering the key pending tasks that are associated with the key political process which are namely the Constitution Making Process, Electoral Process and Transitional Justice Process,” he added.
“As we speak now, we are behind schedules in relation to reconstitution of the political parties’ council, National Electoral Commission and enactment of the amendment of the electoral law, reconstitution of the National Constitution review commission, and formation of the Drafting Constitution committee, Establishment of the Commission of Truth, Healing and Reconciliation that goes together with the Compensation Reparation Authority.” He cited.
The interim government is only left with eighteen months, if they lost ten months without delivering these pending phases that are essential, and which requires no resources to be employed, only require political sitting and political decision among members of the presidency and announced without wasting a single dollar.
Yakani reiterated that the country may not meet the expectations of the people as per the signed agreement, which might force them to take ungrateful decisions.
“We are worried that we may do things in rush and may not meet the standard as required by the citizens of South Sudan,” he remarked.
The executive director urged presidency to act on the remaining tasks of the roadmap and demonstrate political will in reconstituting the political parties’ council and the rest of the pending essential stages in the roadmap.
“The members of the presidency have the responsibility to decide on the genuine and timely implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement. If there are any challenges in implementing the phases then they are to be blamed,” said Yakani.
Earlier this month, members have expressed dismay at continued violence, hunger, record displacement, climate change effects in country according to United Nations.
The current year will be a “make-or-break” one for South Sudan, marking the start of a recent and singular 24-month extension of its transition process, United Nations officials told the Security Council, warning against any further delays in implementing the young nation’s.
Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), earlier this month said the Transitional Government recently recommitted to implementing the 2018 Peace Agreement known officially as the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.