Juba, South Sudan
August 8, 2022 — The Chairman of the National Democratic Movement has criticized the unity government for extending the transitional period for 24 months, depicting it as a deliberate tactic for the leaders of the RTGONU to continue imposing themselves on power.
On Thursday, the parties to the R-ARCSS extended their mandate by two years to give them time for implementation of the pending provisions in the revitalized peace agreement.
During the discussion on peace implementation roadmap in Juba, the unity government resolved to stay in power for the next 24 months, until December 2024, where elections are expected to install a new political dispensation.
In a statement obtained by Nyamilepdia, Dr. Lam Akol reacted on the extension saying the decision by the peace signatories in Juba, is a deliberate obstruction to speedy implementation of the peace provisions.
“All along the implementation process, we have all observed deliberate stalling, obstruction and selective implementation of some provisions of the Revitalized Agreement,” Dr. Lam said in a statement on Thursday.
The decision to extend the lifespan of the transitional period was also protested by the Troika countries, who expressed concerns over lack of inclusive consultation in the process.
Top Diplomats from the US, UK, and Norway boycotted the peace implementation roadmap meeting at the Freedom Hall, saying all stakeholders have not been put in picture on the matter.
“We are writing to you personally, to express our profound concern that fully inclusive consultations must take place with civil society, faith-based groups, business, women’s groups, youth representatives, eminent persons, and international partners before the R-ARCSS is amended,” Trioka statement reads.
Meanwhile, the main personalities to the peace pact denied having extended the transition in order to prolong their stay in power.
In his conclusion remarks during the event, President Salva Kiir said the parties have extended the transitional period to avoid a chaotic election.
“We are not extending the transition because I want to stay in the government longer. We don’t want to rush you into an election that will take us back to war,” said the Head-of-state.
President Kiir’s remarks were also echoed by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and other leaders, who asserted that the extension is for the best interest of the country.
“We are all cognizant that in the next four months, you cannot implement what is in this agreement. You have 72.7 percent of the agreement unimplemented. You have no choice,” Machar said.
However, Dr Lam also expressed skeptical view on the government’s aptness to take only two years to iron out the bigger part of the agreement, which was not completed in the last three years.
“The parties have not completed implementing the activities earmarked in the transition, which was to be for 8 months only, such as the unification of the forces and completing the formation of government structures which remain outstanding.“ Dr. Lam added. ” It was clear that these deliberate obstructions of the agreement were driving at the extension of the transitional period for the regime to buy more time in power,”
Dr. Lam emphasized that the extension has nothing to do with the implementation of R-ARCSS but more to do with staying in power for as long as possible.
According to the senior opposition leader, the peace implementation roadmap should have been agreed upon in an inclusive conference of all the active forces in South Sudan.
“It is that conference that would decide on the transitional administration that can be trusted to carry out the elections.”, he stressed.
The SSOA-affiliated opposition faction distanced itself from the extension of the agreement, and urged the unity government to present their position to the other political and military actors left out of the 2018 peace deal.
