Signatories to the peace agreement sign a deal to extend the transitional period by 24 months. | 5th August 2022. | Photo: Lou Nelson/Eye Radio.

Civil Society Activist Edmund Yakani is calling on the unity government to begin 2023 with a renewed political commitment to implementing the peace roadmap.

Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO urged the Ministry of Finance to release the national budget funds allocated for the implementation of the peace agreement.

Yakani said the government should take concrete decisions for the speedy implementation of the roadmap and prevention of deadly communal violence.

“Change of political attitudes from the leadership of the country is highly required for proper and genuine political commitment for successful political transitional process,” said Yakani.

“Among urgently required political commitment is the timely release of the national budget funds allocated for peace agreement implementation.”

He also asked the government to stop financing priorities that do not contribute to the realization of peace in the country.

“Actually not releasing funds for peace priorities is an act of undermining and dragging efforts for timely realization of successful political transitional process.”

It is urgent matter that the presidency mechanism should meet and take some time to deliberate on the implementation of the R-ARCSS/roadmap since by 22nd February 2023 is the official end of the transitional period and roll out of the adopted R-ARCSS/roadmap for the extended period of 24 months.”

Last Friday, the Council of Ministers convened its first meeting of the year 2023 and listened to a presentation of the peace roadmap by Dr. Martin Elia Lumoro, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs.

Minister Lumoro also directed fellow national ministers to identify and implement their respective duties in the adopted peace implementation roadmap.

However, Yakani said that failure to release the funds for peace implementation undermines efforts to achieve a successful political transition on time.

The activist casts doubt on the possibility of timely roadmap implementation unless the presidency renews its commitment to a genuine implementation of the peace agreement.