By Yiep Joseph
Coalition of Opposition Parties (COOP), an umbrella group of various parties, has criticized the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) for extending its term by two years, citing insufficient consultation with the public.
In an interview, COOP Chairperson Ghai Chol asserted that the government failed to adequately engage citizens before making such a decision.
This criticism follows the recent announcement that the parties to the 2018 peace agreement, extending the transitional period until 2026.
Ghai stated that COOP has consistently urged the peace parties to conduct an inclusive dialogue before making such decisions.
“We have been advocating for an inclusive dialogue that would have shaped the future of South Sudan. However, our efforts were thwarted, and the discussion was confined to a select few members of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (RARCSS),” Ghai said.
He, however, reiterated that with proper consultation from the citizens, extensions could be guided and can be implemented.
Ghai claimed that the extension would worsen the suffering of South Sudanese.
“This extension represents nothing but prolonged suffering for the people. As you are aware, it has now been 11 months without salaries for the organized forces and civil servants, and an astonishing 39 months without salaries for our diplomats. By the end of this extension, diplomats will have endured five years without pay, and the organized forces and civil servants will have faced 39 months without their rightful earnings,” he explained.
“This situation is untenable and unjust. We need an inclusive dialogue that will determine the future of South Sudan,” he added.
In his part, Dr. Jong Anthony, the chairperson of Action for Democratic Change (ADC), called on the citizens to pressure parties to implement the remaining part of the agreement without fail.
“I call on the public to pressure the parties to the agreement to implement the remaining parts of the agreement so that the election takes place on time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dengbil William Aguer, Interim President of the African People’s Congress (APC), rejected the extension, claiming it was against the will of the people.
“In my capacity as the leader of the APC, I vehemently condemn the recent arbitrary extension of the mandate of the Revitalised Government of National Unity (R-GNU) for an additional two years,” he said.
“I view this decision as a blatant disregard for the will of the people and an affront to the principles of democratic governance and accountability,” he added.
In a separate interview, Deng Bol Aruai Bol, Chairman of the Common Peoples Alliance (CPA), expressed that dialogue was necessary before extension.
“We strongly advocate that this extension be a subject of open consultation and dialogue, involving all parties to the peace agreement, newly registered political forces, civil society, peace guarantors, and other stakeholders,” he said.