By Deng Ghai Deng
Representatives of the Troika-comprising the United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway, have urged the South Sudan government to publish a credible timetable for elections and to initiate voter registration as a crucial first step.
This call came following a meeting in Oslo where leaders from the Troika countries expressed profound disappointment over the South Sudanese government’s decision to extend its transitional status.
The meeting included briefings from the Tumaini Secretariat and UNMISS, contributing to discussions on future approaches to the ongoing crisis.
In a joint statement released on Wednesday, Troika partners pledged to engage with International Financial Institutions to ensure the government manages public finances with transparency and accountability.
“The impunity for human rights violations must end,” the statement read. “We will continue to call for the removal of the recent amendments to the NSS Act, which authorize warrant-free detentions and arrests, and other measures which restrict civil and political space.”
The Troika reaffirmed support for the Tumaini Initiative in Kenya and urged South Sudan leaders, both signatories and non-signatories, to leverage current discussions to foster sustainable peace.
The representatives criticized the South Sudanese leadership for consolidating power among a small elite, warning that the international community will not endorse a status quo that prioritizes a few over the broader population’s welfare.
The Troika emphasized that the upcoming extension period is critical for the transitional government to demonstrate its commitment to the peace agreement.
“The actions of South Sudan’s leaders in the coming weeks will reveal their political will to fulfil long-overdue commitments,” the statement concluded.