Major General Charles Tai Gituai speaks at an R-JMEC meeting in Juba. |File photo.

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) on Thursday called on the peace parties to speed up the implementation of election-related tasks.

Its interim chairperson, General Charles Tai Gituai, made the plea as the parties mark one year since the peace parties extended the transitional period timeline by 24 months.

“Given the time remaining tasks, my recommendations to the R-TGoNU regarding elections-related tasks are to expedite the reconstitution of the Political Parties Council and the National Review Commission,” Gituai said during the 31st meeting of the parties in Juba.

He also called for the enactment of the National Elections Act by parliament to pave the way for reconstitution of a credible and impartial National Elections Commission.

Gituai urged the allocation of adequate resources to the implementation of all pending provisions of the 2018 accord – including the security arrangement mechanism and the completion of the unification of forces.

The peace observer further encourages the expansion of political and civic space “for all South Sudanese to take part in the conversations surrounding their participation in the political process and ensure that women’s representation in the political process attains a minimum of 35%, including in the constitution-making bodies.”

Speaking in the same meeting, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Martin Elia said some of the peace parties and stakeholders have submitted the names of their representatives to the Political Parties Council.

“Some of the parties and stakeholders have submitted their candidates for the membership of PPC for consideration as required by the Act.”

He then said the National Elections Act amendment bill is undergoing the legislative process in the parliament and will be approved once the financial year budget is passed.

and is awaiting passage of the financial year 2023-2024 budget before the process resumes once is enacted the National Elections Commission will be restructured and reconstituted to include all the party’s signatories to the agreement.”

Wednesday’s meeting attended by representatives from various political parties, civil society organizations, regional observers, and international partners, was to discuss the progress and challenges of the peace implementation.