The United Nations is prepared to support South Sudan’s transitional process, according to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Nicholas Haysom.
Speaking during the Revitalized Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) Extraordinary Plenary, Haysom stated that the assistance would be provided in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), two of the UN’s key partners.
However, Haysom noted that the UN remains dissatisfied with the approval of the extended transition period.
“This extension proposal must be considered, as it is unfortunately clear that the country is not yet ready for elections that could reliably deliver a credible and peaceful outcome,” said Haysom. A similar approach was supported two years ago by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), with the expectation that the transition would not be extended again.
He urged the parties involved to commit to holding elections and to swiftly coordinate their preparations, arguing that credible and peaceful elections would ensure national security and stability.
Haysom stressed that South Sudan’s political leaders and the Transitional Government must be held accountable for the mistakes of the past two years.
The head of UNMISS emphasized that South Sudan’s leaders must prioritize the country’s needs, restore public confidence, provide necessary political and civic space, and consider the views of all parties, including those not signed onto the Tumaini Initiative.
Achieving these goals would pave the way for lasting and inclusive peace in South Sudan.
Last week, the signatories of the 2018 peace agreement decided to extend the current transitional period by an additional two years. This extension means that the election initially scheduled for December 22, 2024, will not take place as planned.
The peace parties had already signed a two-year extension of the transitional government in August 2022, citing the need to fulfill critical tasks outlined in the 2018 peace agreement.
Public opinion on the decision to prolong the transitional period remains divided, with many citizens expressing dissatisfaction with how the nation’s leaders are managing the process.