President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar shake hands after their meeting in Juba, South Sudan October 19, 2019 - Courtesy

The Governance Cluster said Thursday that the Political Parties Council, National Elections Commissions, and Constitutional Review Commissions will be reconstituted when President Kiir returns from the United States.

The Head of State is in New York for the Annual United Nations General Assembly.

The three bodies are key to preparing the country for the general elections scheduled for December 2024.

Cabinet Affairs Minister Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro said the mechanisms will be constituted as soon as the President returns.

He further said the government has formed a joint Tripartite Taskforce to help the country with the process of writing the constitution and preparing for elections.

The taskforce, Lomuro said, is comprised of the government, African Union, the regional bloc IGAD, and the United Nations.

“We will be constituting the National Constitution Review Commission, the National Elections Commission, and the Political Parties Council immediately upon the return of the President so that he can now appoint the various members representing the parties to the agreement,” Lomuro said during the International Day of Peace celebrations in Juba on Thursday.

“When that happens, we have deliberately instituted a joint government tripartite taskforce comprising of the government, African Union, IGAD, and the UN to help South Sudan with the process of writing the Constitution and preparing for elections.”

On his part, First Vice President Dr Riak Machar affirmed the progress made in the establishment of the mechanisms.

He adds that names have been provided and only waiting for the return of the President.

“The Constitution Review Commission that is supposed to be working on the constitution and also accompanying institutions such as the Constitutional Drafting Committee, the Preparatory Sub Committee that would assist the NRC, I believe they are now ready,” Machar said.

“Names have been provided; I can affirm that to you. So, when the President comes back, this is possible that the NCRC and the accompanying institutions will be formed.”

“Similarly, with the Political Parties Council, names have been provided. I believe also with the National Elections Commission.”

But several stakeholders have often criticized the reluctance of the government over the reconstitution of the mechanisms which it often blamed on the lack of resources.