For Immediate Release
September 21, 2024(Nyamilepedia) —The South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN) is gravely concerned about the recent decision by the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) to support the extension of the roadmap for the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) by an additional two years. This decision, which postpones democratic elections and the transition to a stable, accountable government, represents a significant setback for the people of South Sudan who have long awaited the promise of a democratic transition.
RJMEC’s support for this extension depicts a concerning setback, indicating that the much-delayed reforms, justice, and reconciliation efforts are being postponed yet again. Instead of advancing the nation toward democratic governance, this decision risks solidifying the current leadership’s hold on power, creating an atmosphere of impunity and continuing human rights violations.
Extending the roadmap denies the South Sudanese people the right to participate in free, fair, and credible elections. It reinforces the political stagnation that has left many citizens without a voice in determining their nation’s future. The lack of an electoral process continues to undermine the trust of the people in their leaders and institutions as it impacts critical reforms in governance, justice, and the security sector that are essential for addressing the underlying causes of conflict in South Sudan.
Millions of South Sudanese remain displaced, food insecurity is widespread, and the human rights situation continues to deteriorate. By extending the roadmap, the government is further delaying the implementation of mechanisms that could alleviate these crises and ensure that the needs of citizens are met.
The roadmap extension further postpones key transitional justice measures, including accountability for atrocities committed during the conflict. The South Sudanese people have waited for far too long for justice, and any delay weakens the credibility of the peace process. SSHRDN strongly believes that the South Sudanese people deserve an inclusive and transparent political process that leads to lasting peace, justice, and democratic governance.
The government should prioritize the implementation of governance and security sector reforms, in line with the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Delaying these reforms only heightens the risk of further instability.
The South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network calls on RJMEC and the government of the Republic of South Sudan to take this moment as an opportunity to recommit to a genuine democratic transition. The extension of the roadmap must be accompanied by a clear commitment to reforms, elections, accountability and a guarantee that there will be no such additional extension of the transitional period after the end of the extended roadmap.
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Contacts:
Email: jbilal@sshrdn.org
Tel: +211914500033
