 has called on the government to immediately reconstitute and fund the National Constitutional Review Commission.){kind=link}
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has called on the government to immediately reconstitute and fund the National Constitutional Review Commission.
Nicholas Haysom, the Head of UNMISS says reconstituting and funding the commission will set the foundation for the preparations of inclusive and credible elections due next year.
He urges the South Sudan government to accelerate the establishment of the Constitutional Drafting Committee, and end the lengthy recess period of Parliament.
“I call on the government to immediately reconstitute and fund the National Constitutional Review Commission and to fast-track the establishment of the Constitutional Drafting Committee, and for Parliament to end its lengthy recess,” Haysom called.
The UN mission Chief says the United Nations has received a government request to assist the South Sudanese-owned and administered elections.
He noted that it is a significant request to support an enabling environment for elections, working with civil society, political parties, and the media.
“The UN has received a government request to assist the South Sudanese-owned and administered elections. Noteworthy is the request to support an enabling environment for elections, working with civil society, political parties, and the media,” he stated.
The UNMISS chief, however, believes there are some key obstacles that the parties must clear in order to position South Sudan to the final leg of the transitional phase next year.
“We believe there are some key hurdles that the parties must clear in order to successfully position South Sudan to complete the final leg of the transitional phase next year,” Haysom expressed.
The obstacles include; drafting a new constitution, finalization the legal framework, reconstituting the National Elections Commission, expansion of civic and political space, and consolidating, strengthening, and deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces.
Haysom stressed that the National Elections Commission has been a defunct body for nearly ten years, lacking human resources and material infrastructure.
He added that Key electoral choices must be determined soon and these steps cannot be shelved until 2024.
UNMISS Boss says drafting a new constitution gives an opportunity for South Sudanese to agree on how they can live together and avoid a repeat of civil wars similar to that of the last decade.
According to him, such arrangements will allow South Sudanese to consolidate their identity and establish how they want to be governed.
Nicholas Haysom, the Head of UNMISS and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General made the statement while addressing the UN Security Council in New York.