Minister Michael Makuei Lueth speaks to Eye Radio. February 25, 2023. (File photo| Awan Moses/Eye Radio).

The Council of Ministers approved the formation of a Joint Taskforce for the implementation of the constitutional-making and electoral process.

South Sudan is currently on the path to a permanent constitutional making process before conducting its first general elections since independence.

Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth said the joint task force will comprise officials from the government, the UN Mission in South Sudan, and other stakeholders.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Makuei said the Minister of Cabinet Affairs Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro gave a presentation on the UNMISS Joint Taskforce.

“He (Lomuro) clarified to the cabinet how this joint task force will be set up comprising UNMISS and the government so that we start the dissemination and implementation of the constitutional-making process and electoral programs,”said the government spokesperson.

“This process is of course a long way and as such it needs the coordination between the government and our partners so that we can implement this agreement in time.”

Makuei further stated that the parties and other stakeholders to the agreement will soon submit a list of their nominees to the Taskforce.

Reaching to the move, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization said it welcomes the approval of the long-awaited joint task force on the electoral and constitutional-making processes.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of CEPO said the time required for the pre-electoral stage is totally running out and the political leadership of the country is slow in acting on this preparatory stage actions for the conduct of the elections by December 2024.

President Salva Kiir assented to the Constitution Making Process Act 2022 and the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011 (Amendment) Act, 2022 in December last year.

However, the lawmaking process has since stalled due to alleged logistical challenges.

On Friday, a national lawmaker said lack of resources should not be used as an excuse to delay the reconstitution of mechanisms of the Constitution Making Process.