
South Sudan: The Voluntary Civil Society Taskforce on Implementation of the Peace Agreement – Call for Inclusive and Consultative Process for Discussion of Road-Map on Implemetation of Outstanding Provisions of the R-ARCSS (04.08.2022)







“A well-placed sourced within the presidency said the two leaders agreed to extend the term of the present coalition government for 32 months. “His Excellency, the President of the Republic [of South Sudan] and His Excellency, the First Vice President have agreed in principle to extend the lifespan of the current transitional government national unity. The other vice presidents, actually the presidency as a whole agreed”, the presidential aide told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday” (Sudan Tribune – ‘S. Sudan’s Kiir, Machar agree to extend transitional period: aide’ 26.07.2022).
The time is just running away and in Juba the Revitalized – Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) continues. The government is legitimized through the Khartoum Declaration and the R-ARCSS. The R-ARCSS had it’s first deadline on the 12th May 2019. Now we are on the 27th July 2022 and the implementation of the R-ARCSS is still going slow. The R-JMEC has over time not only monitored it, but also explained how slow the process has been.
There has already been delays and stopped the progress of the R-TGoNU. Now in 2022 nobody should be shocked of a prolonged term and such. This is really ensuring the warlords and the unelected more time in office. That’s why it’s really telling when they are planning another 32 months. That means since 2018 to about March 2025 will be with the R-TGoNU.
The R-TGoNU would by then have the time to implement and secure the institutions of the government. That is necessary since for now it’s still mostly done by Presidential Decree and orders from Ministers and Governors. Therefore, it is a need for a new re-set and put forward an elected government.
However, it is a long way there and the current leadership won’t risk that. They have built their legacies on blood and bloodshed. That’s why this is still better than a civil war. The second R-ARCSS has been on shaky grounds and at some turns where the stakeholders haven’t been talking like earlier in the year. When the SPLM/A-IO went out of the R-ARCSS agreement and suspended their activities. That was settled after a new signed security agreement this year.
Now, the two leaders have signalled a further postponement. That is not shocking, but showing how the temporary becomes permanent. This is easier than finalize things or implement them. It seems to be profitable and worth it for the ones who are part of it. The R-TGoNU will clearly get more time and it seems to be the only way. Because, to push or to cease support of it will be much worse.
The ones wanting an election for an election sake will not be any good. We know the current leadership will not be in a hurry to finish anything or implement anything significant. If they do… it would be a shock. They are more preoccupied buying SUVs and having family members living large in Nairobi. Therefore, the administration in Juba will not push for changes overnight.
The extension seems to be the only way forward. Because, ushering in an election and doing so without proper institutions. Will possibly create more tensions and more questions about the future. Yes, these leaders are only holding offices because of how they were parts of the independence struggle and able to negotiate the best deal for their group. That’s why it could possibly vanish or strengthen in up-coming election. This is why the R-TGoNU is serving its own interest by prolonging it.
We can expect the Troika in a Press Statement to say they “welcome it”, but want them to “speed up an election”. The R-TGoNU should see that one coming. Nevertheless, the Troika should prefer peace and slow movement. Over possibly no talks and no dialogue between the stakeholders of the R-ARCSS.
The public deserves more than a Transitional Government. They should after 10 years since independence have something more substantial than that. The R-TGoNU has failed in this regard. They have had 11 years and we are still in a limbo. The R-TGoNU better follow the advice and mechanisms to ensure the implementation of it. The government cannot think they do this forever and get away with it. The citizens and the stakeholders will themselves decide the way forward.
Because, it is tiring and feels like an endless game to hold office without the burden of getting the popular vote. This means the previous warlords and the ones who had the majority of soldiers got the upper-hand. Not the ones who has the best programs, policies or the dogma, which the public trust the most. Alas, time will only tell, but it will be a long time before see anything else than “Transitional” in Juba. Peace.








