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

The head of Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) – a body that oversees the implementation of the 2018 peace deal, has called for the implementation of pending tasks including the writing of a permanent constitution prior to elections.

Addressing the African Union Peace and Security Council in Ethiopia on Thursday, Amb. Charles Tai Gituai said the promise to hold South Sudan’s first ever elections since independence comes with a lot of expectations and anxiety.

“Two critical pre-conditions are still pending. Firstly, the Revitalised Agreement provides for elections to be conducted under a people-led and people-owned Permanent Constitution, which shall initiate a federal and democratic system of government at the end of the Transitional Period,” Gituai said.

“The unification of forces faces serious challenges, and yet, it is the most consequential for stability and enduring peace,” Gituai said, in reference to the deployment of Necessary Unified Force, which kicked off a day before his address.

On November 15, South Sudan peace parties commenced the milestone deployment of the 53,000-peace force as dozens of river boats and vehicles dispatch troops to different deployment centers.

Tut Gatluak, the Presidential Advisor on National Security Affairs and Chair of the Joint Defense Board, said President Kiir ordered the NUF deployment, although they are yet to acquire firearms.

South Sudan government Information Minister Michael Makuei said in September 2023, the country could possibly go for elections without a permanent constitution because the transitional parliament is not representing the will of South Sudanese to pass a constitution.

Makuei’s remarks provoked condemnations from the August House, who vowed to summon him, for delegitimizing an important branch of the government.

Meanwhile, R-JMEC boss Gituai further commended the recent reconstitution of the Political Parties Council (PPC), the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) and the National Elections Commission (NEC).

The Kenyan observer of the South Sudan peace process appealed to the unity government to ensure the electoral bodies are effective and fully funded to fulfill their transitional mandates.

“These institutions will require significant resources and capacity to deliver on their mandates,” Gituai said.

“In that regard, their effectiveness will pave the way towards registering, overseeing, and regulating activities of political parties, widening of civic and political space, the making of the permanent constitution and for the conduct of elections as scheduled”.

Gituai expressed said his peace-monitoring body expressed concerns that the country might not implement the 2018 peace pact on time – a situation he said could seriously jeopardize the upcoming elections.

“Without predictable and adequate funding towards the implementation of the Agreement, including the NUF and the recently reconstituted institutions, we express the concern that South Sudan might have a challenge in meeting the implementation schedule of the R-ARCSS, and this could seriously jeopardize the holding of elections in December 2024.”

Gituai requested the AU Peace and Security Council to prevail and encourage the unity government in Juba to complete implementation of the critical pending tasks, so that South Sudan can have a smooth transition to a democratic dispensation.

The RJMEC Chairperson concluded by appealing to the Council to continue standing firm in solidarity with the people of South Sudan.