

South Sudan: Increased Food Insecurity in South Sudan Exacerbates Threats to the Lives of 3.1 Million Children in Urgent Need of Protection (27.07.2023)





The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) released yesterday their Quarterly Report on the progress and implementation of the R-ARCSS in South Sudan. This is how the Government of South Sudan and the stakeholders are ensuring the implementation of the peace agreement. That has already been stalled, delayed and moving super slow, which has resorted in several push-backs and new deadlines.
Now in July 2023, as the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) and their signatories are preparing for elections. There are several of bottlenecks and key issues left unresolved. Matters which should have been not only addressed, but agreed upon. To force an election without this is only meriting an illegitimate exercise made for incumbents. That’s how you can interpret things, as there are no codes, laws or boundaries of mandates, which cannot be broken by the appointed high ranking officials of the Republic.
Just read these two paragraphs from the R-JMEC Report of yesterday!
“According to the Roadmap schedule, the reconstitution of the NCRC should have been completed by 30 August 2022; the establishment of the Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC), by 30 October 2022; the conduct by NCRC of its first phase of civic education and collection of data on public views on the constitution-making process by 30 January 2023; the preparation of the first report by NCRC of the civic education and public consultation data for validation by the Public by March 2023; recruitment of members to form the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) by 30 December 2022; and the establishment of the Preparatory Sub-Committee (PSC) by 30 January 2023. Almost six months later, none of these tasks have been completed” (R-JMEC – ‘ON THE STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVITALISED AGREEMENT ON THE RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN, 22.07.2023).
“In terms of the preparation for elections as per the Roadmap, no progress has been made in the reconstitution of the Political Parties Council despite the law having been enacted over one year ago. The reconstitution of the Council is critical to paving the way for the registration of political parties. Also, the enactment of the National Elections (Amendment) Bill, which is before the TNL, and its operationalization is way behind schedule. As a result of these delays, all the elections-related tasks including the establishment and functioning of institutions that drive the elections process, are behind schedule” (R-JMEC – ‘ON THE STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVITALISED AGREEMENT ON THE RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN, 22.07.2023).
This just shows how deliberate the government, the SPLM-IG and others are acting indifference. It is inaction and lack of concern with the implications of not implementing or coding vital matters. Because, if the stakeholders did so. They had to comply and follow the law. That’s why we know why this hasn’t happened.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit prefers the decrees and that his word is final. He don’t want to altar that now after all these years in office. No, he wants prolong his time in office and has no plans of retiring. That’s why a Constitution and a proper election frightens him. He would have to be statesman and a seasoned politician fighting for the crowds. It is easier when he owns the system, is the personification of the state and can rule supreme. That’s what he wants and he cannot jeopardize that by coding needed laws and making them active. Because, if he does that… it means he has to comply and looses his control of the Republic.
The R-JMEC report is a depressing read. Just by these few words. The R-JMEC is just observing and describing the current affairs. However, it just shows how the R-TGoNU and the ones in office doesn’t mind the lack of institutionalism. They rather prefer the decrees of the President. Peace.




““The SPLM leadership and the SPLA military command joint meeting … unanimously affirmed General Salva Kiir Mayardit as the chairman of the SPLM and commander in chief of the SPLA,” SPLM’s senior official Pagan Amun told reporters” (Sudan’s SPLM names Salva Kiir as Garang’s successor, 01.08.2005).
Since August 2005, the man in-charge and the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has been Salva Kiir Mayardit. That has persisted to this day. He has also become the Head of State and the President of the independent nation, South Sudan since July 9th, 2011.
This week President Kiir announced the first election(s) in South Sudan. This is 12 years since the independence in 2011. 2023 is a long time from 2011. There has been so many moons and change of the tides since then.
That’s why this reporting is key: “Thousands of people from the states of Bahr el Ghazal and Abyei Administrative Area are gathering in Wau to celebrate the sole nomination of President Salva Kiir as SPLM flag bearer in the 2024 general elections, says presidency” (Radio One 87.9 FM, 04.07.2023).
We know that President Kiir does this for a reason. He needs the support and be the core candidate in an up-coming elections. Though the constitution isn’t prepared. Neither has there been a consensus or any sort of thing. Meaning, any authority or electoral commission lacks electoral reforms or laws to bind it. While the Presidency haven’t prepared the state or the government to actually run a legit election. The basics are not in place and haven’t been a priority.
President Kiir knows that he cannot be “transitional” forever. Neither will foreign donors or the international community accept it either. Just like his ally in Kampala. He has already pushed over a decade without an election and now must resolve it. Even if the election is shoddy, questionable and “contested” because the state didn’t prepare or ensure a transparent election.
The SPLM and the other stakeholders should all question the stress and the need. It must be done because Kiir and his allies are worried about lacking legitimacy. The R-ARCSS has been postponed and the transitional period has been prolonged. There has been several of deadlines, but they have been pushed again and again…
This election is only happening because you cannot come with more excuses to finish the R-ARCSS. Kiir needs to be legit and be “elected”. That’s just to ensure his Presidency for Life. He wants to copy Museveni and was able to push close to 13 years without an election. Kiir pushed over a decade without elections and now he suddenly has to do it. While the state isn’t prepared, and neither is anyone else. It will be a front and hard to believe if the results are the will of the people. That’s because of the weird feeling of rush…
It seems rushed and that’s mind boggling, thinking the state has over a decade to prepare and ensure legislation, institutions, and whatnot to be ready. However, that hasn’t happened and done so for a reason. Kiir and his allies has prospered on it. We have all seen it and that’s why he does it now. Because he thinks his a few steps ahead of his competition and therefore, can win easily. While it will not cement his legacy but make his prolonged stay in office more questionable.
President Kiir has been the leader of SPLM since 2005 and the head of state since 2011. Now he wants to be elected. When he is used to be selected. That’s a earth shattering idea, but this election will be more of a formality. Than the will of the people. Especially, when there are so many missing pieces in the run-up to the elections. The R-ARCSS and R-TGoNU aren’t ready or have made things in order. That’s why Kiir cannot sell this election without having a lot of doubts and wonder if they will make things right. Peace.








