Interim Chairperson Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai - Courtesy

The Interim Chairperson of the peace monitoring body R-JMEC is calling on the UN Security Council and the international community to support the unity government complete the pending tasks in the peace agreement.

This, according to Ambassador Charles Tai Gituai, will help push South Sudan towards credible, free, and fair elections by the end of 2024.

Gitai also said the pace of the peace process has been too slow.

This is because he said, much of what was expected to have been implemented by the end of the 36-month transitional period was not achieved.

” Without predictable and adequate funding, our assessment is that South Sudan will continue to struggle to adhere to the implementation schedule of the R-ARCSS,

“In RJMEC’s view, the international community can support the South Sudanese efforts, especially by directly funding the constitution-making process, Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR), Gituai told members of the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday.”

South Sudan is 18 months away from December 2026 polls, but R-JMEC says the extended transitional period has yet to lag behind schedules

Gituai said there is a need for collective efforts from the international community to focus on South Sudan at this critical time and ensure that the Agreement is implemented in letter and spirit.

Appealed to the UNSC to visit South Sudan saying Juba is at a critical time of elections preparations.

“I would like to appeal to this Council to remain seized of the peace process in South Sudan, to consider visiting Juba at this critical time of election preparations, and to stand in solidarity with the people of South Sudan.”

According to the R-JMEC boss, elections should be held under a permanent constitution in South Sudan.

The peace body is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the implementation of the deal.

It includes monitoring the mandate and tasks of the new unity government, including the adherence of the Parties to the agreed timelines and implementation schedule.