By Bosco Bush
TROIKA member states have expressed reservations about endorsing the two-year extension of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement, withholding their support for the extension.
In a joint statement, TROIKA, that include Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States, expressed deep concern about the announcement by South Sudan’s leaders regarding the extension of the transitional period by two years.
TROIKA noted that the decision to extend the transitional period for a further 2 years is unpopular and signifies the country’s leaders’ failure to create the necessary conditions for conducting credible elections.
“This announcement demonstrates the persistent and collective failure of South Sudan’s leaders to create the conditions necessary to hold credible and peaceful elections in accordance with an established, publicly agreed-upon timeline,” partly read the statement.
“We acknowledge that elections cannot be credibly held as scheduled in December. This is because of South Sudanese leadership failures and lack of political will,” it added.
“Nevertheless, we cannot in good conscience endorse the extension of a status quo that prioritizes the privileges of the elite over the welfare of the South Sudanese people,” read the statement.
It called on the transitional government to act with urgency to demonstrably create the conditions necessary for credible and peaceful elections.
This includes expanded political and civic space to enable citizens to express their views without fear or repercussions, politically neutral security forces, funded and operationalized electoral institutions, and leaders’ public commitment to dialogue and the rejection of violence as a tool for political competition.
The observers urge leaders to work toward sustainable peace, in particular through the Tumaini Initiative in Nairobi and broad-based leadership-level dialogue in Juba. While prioritizing the voices of women and youth.
Over the weekend, President Salva Kiir signed Amendment Number 12 to the Transitional Constitution of 2011, extending the transitional period by 2 years.
This is after the cabinet, RJMEC, and the National Assembly endorsed the 2-year extension.