“As you may recall, in March this year, RJMEC wrote to the Executive of the RTGoNU expressing its concerns on the lack of consensus on the prospects of conducting credible elections as scheduled in December 2024, and called for urgent inter-party dialogue on the way forward, in the spirit of collegiality and consensus, as per the requirement of the R-ARCSS. It is therefore important that the interparty dialogue be expedited to provide clarity on the way forward. This would help the South Sudanese to prepare sufficiently and enable timely mobilisation of resources by the regional and international community to support the process” (…) “It is concerning that barely seven months to the elections, there is still no evidence of sufficient preparation for the conduct of elections and implementation of critical election-related tasks” (R-JMEC – ‘STATEMENT BY H.E. AMB. MAJ GEN (rtd) CHARLES TAI GITUAI CBS INTERIM CHAIRPERSON – RJMEC TO THE 35TH RJMEC MONTHLY MEETING, THURSDAY, 23 MAY 2024 JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN, 23.05.2024).
The SPLM and the allies of J-1 should listen in to the R-JMEC. The statement released yesterday by the Interim Chairman Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, which describes a worrying sign and signals the lack of institutionalization of the state and laws ahead of the December 2024 elections. There is only a few months and the R-TGoNU and R-ARCSS haven’t been fulfilled. Therefore, it will be a hollow election with lack of paperwork and framework to be credible.
If President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his associates thinks this is a good idea. That he pushed the election and get the nod to be legitimately elected in this atmosphere. The nature of things might become even more fickle. The narratives will run crazy and around, as there is a lack of trust or credibility. Therefore, the Head of State that is used to live on decree. He needs to rethink and reconfigure, if he wants to be a sincere leader.
This here is about the lack of progress, the lack of will and the stalling. The R-TGoNU and the slow movement of the mechanisms regarding the R-ARCSS. The state has stopped and haven’t tried to fix the needed things ahead of the elections. They have been busy looting, eating or scheming. If not sending cash to Nairobi or elsewhere where they can live like Kings. Because, in Juba and other regions of the state. There is a lack of government services and proof of changes after the meetings abroad.
The talks is happening outside of the nation. They are meeting stakeholders in conferences and huge mediation forums, instead of trying to fix the nation from within. It is better infrastructure and possibilities elsewhere, but that is a sign of how the government has failed. The SPLM and the other parts of government needs to act upon this.
The R-JMEC warning should be the final straw. It is should be a reason to act in haste. Now is a time to move quickly and assess the situation even further. That’s if J-1 or anyone else in power wants legitimacy with the election in December 2024. The few months ahead. Just about a half-year is left before the polls are on.
There been so much postponement and the transitional period has just lasted and laster. It seemed like a never ending story. If Kiir and his associates pushed for these polls. That will not help him and only damage his reputation. As his forcing himself on the people and it won’t be a credible affair. Peace.
MinBane 