Sep 23, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — The European Union (EU) regrets that South Sudan does not have a legitimate legislative assembly that would be key to matters that reguire accountability and long-term planning for development.
Speaking in Juba, South Sudan, the EU’s deputy head of mission to South Sudan, Alessandro Rossi, who met president Kiir recently said South Sudan should not expect a proper transitional unity government without a legitimate parliament.
“You cannot have a proper new transitional unity government without a parliament.” Amb. Rossi said.
“There are no real check and balances at the moment and this is not the kind of government the international community is ready to speak with for long-term planning of development,” Alessandro Rossi added.
The EU Deputy Head of mission to South Sudan regrets that as long as the key components of the peace agreement such as security arrangement, public finance management and other important issues are not addressed, then no peace is being implemented.
“If the security arrangements are not completed, if transitional justice has not even started, if public finance management is not redressed then we cannot speak of appropriate implementation of the peace agreement,” Amb Rossi continued.
EU Special envoy to South Sudan is not alone. Many foreign diplomates who have traveled to Juba over the past 7 years see no significant progress is being made.
Although guns are currently silent, the current peace agreement is missing an important ingredient – political will – from the party leaders for it to be implemented.
The president, who has an upper hand, dictates when the parliament can be dissolved, when the security arrangement can be implemented, when government officials such as governors or even county commissioners can be appointed.
So far nothing has moved really far; however, South Sudanese have no hope to lose but just to carry on day by day.
The EU Special Envoy has met Dr. Riek Machar, the First Vice President, recently and made the same remarks.
Messages like these from the TROIKA, EU, AU and the rest of the superpowers are not rare but they have not delivered much over the last seven years.
