The Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan Nicholas Haysom speaks at the 75th anniversary of the UN Peacekeepers Day in Juba. May 29, 2023 | Photo by Gregorio Cunha/UNMISS

The African Union Mission, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and United Nations Mission in South Sudan have welcomed the reconstitution of key transitional institutions by President Salva Kiir.

On November 3, 2023, Kiir reconstituted the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC), National Elections Commission (NEC) and the Political Parties’ Council (PPC).

The regional and international agencies commended the decision, saying the reconstituted institution are critical developments represent encouraging progress in the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.

While reading out a joint statement, Ben Dotsei Malor, the Chief of Communications and Public Information of the UN Mission in South Sudan said the three peace guarantors “welcome the recently announced Presidential Decrees on the commencement of the process to reconstitute” the institutions.

“These critical developments represent encouraging progress in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS),” Malor said.

“They also highlight key milestones in preparing for and clarifying the way forward in the country’s Permanent Constitution-Making process and its first post-independence elections, scheduled for December 2024.”

The UN official, however, urged the parties’ signatory to the peace agreement to ensure consensus on these issues and safeguard the inclusion of women and other groups as envisioned within the legal framework of South Sudan.

The AU, IGAD and UNMISS further call on the government to finalize the reconstitution process with urgency in accordance with the existing legal frameworks and to increase the momentum in implementing all remaining benchmarks outlined in the peace agreement.

They also stress appeal for a focus on the remaining time within the transitional period based on realistic, action-oriented achievable timeframes.

According to the agencies, these efforts must be complemented by the immediate deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) to ensure the peaceful completion of the transition.

The trio then call on the government to allocate fund for the reconstituted institution to ensure their readiness for upcoming elections.

Mr Malor said in the joint statement that with only 13 months remaining before the scheduled Election date, the groups urgently call on the parties to resolve the outstanding issues.

He also called on the unity government to allocate and disburse the necessary resources to ensure the institutional readiness of the reconstituted institutions.

Finally, the groups stated that, greater political will, trust and pragmatism from all sides will be essential to reach agreement on key decisions that urgently need to be taken to ensure that peaceful, credible, and inclusive Elections can be conducted within the existing timeframe.

They call upon all the parties and leaders to engage with a sense of urgency in constructive and inclusive dialogue and work towards the comprehensive implementation of the 2028 agreement.

According to the 2018 pact, the President, in consultation with the Parties, and with the approval of the parliament, shall reconstitute a competent and impartial National Elections Commission to conduct elections, no later than twelve months after the commencement of the Transitional Period.

The National Elections Commission has been mired in bankruptcy as its chairperson repeated appeals to the Ministry of Finance and Planning to clear years of rent arrears or they face eviction.