The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission has called on National Unity government to expedite the enactment of National Elections Act to pave way for reconstitution of credible and impartial National Electoral Commission.
The Chairperson of RJMEC Charles Tai Gituai stated the amendment of national election laws, reconstitution of National Elections Commission, and other tasks are still pending.
“Regarding the preparation for elections, in addition to the amendment of the national election law and reconstitution of the National Elections Commission, all the other tasks including the reconstitution of the Political Parties Council, and establishment of election management structures at the sub-national levels are still pending.”
Ambassador Tai said in chapter 2, phase one of the necessary Unified Forces who were graduated are yet to be redeployed, to pave way to the preparedness of the coming elections.
The RJMEC regretted the delay of the pending tasks as South Sudan is just 16 months away from the general elections time.
“It is evident that many milestones are still to be achieved, and yet it is barely 16 months away from elections.”
He questioned the parties and Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity if they will implement the critical pending tasks as per the Roadmap within the remaining period.
“The questions which must be asked to the Parties and the RTGoNU include the following: is the implementation of the critical pending tasks as per the Roadmap on track, and at the appropriate peace. And will the prerequisites for free and fair elections be implemented within timeline and how.”
He appealed to the Principals of the Parties signatory to the revitalized agreement to consider meeting, and take stock of implementation progress.
Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Elia Martin Lomoro, who represented RTGoNU in the meeting said the draft bill of the National Elections is undergoing the process in the parliament waiting for the passing of the financial year national budget 2023/24
“The draft bill of the National elections is still undergoing the process in the parliament and is awaiting the passing of the financial year 2023/24 budget before the process resumes and once enacted, the National Elections commission will be restructured and reconstituted to include the parties signatories to the agreement.”
Lomoro added that, the national constitution review commission, the National Election commission and the National bureau of Statistics presented the respective processes of operations and budgets to the joint taskforce.
The minister of Cabinet Affairs regretted the delay of 2023/24 budgets approval which has blocked the supply of items for the deployment of Unified Forces across the country.
“Now, due to delay of approval of the fiscal year 2023/24 budget, the 3.6 billion budget required for supply of some items for deployment of phase Unified Forces has not been released.”
The minister said the three important commissions of national constitution review commission, and National Election Commission shall be a priority.
The officials made their statement during the 30th of RJMEC plenary meeting on Thursday in Juba.