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Juba: Al-Naeim Mubarak Kuol
Maj. Gen. Bior Leek, a former detainee and Senior Party Representative to the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), questioned the absence of a clear timeline for implementing the extended transitional period on Wednesday.
In September, the parties to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) postponed the elections initially scheduled for this month and extended the transitional period for the second time by an additional two years.
Speaking at the CTSAMVM Technical Committee meeting held at the Beijing Hotel in Juba, Leek said that since the extension was announced, the government has yet to provide a precise timeline.
He added, “I don’t understand why the transitional government has been in place for such a long period, yet no clear schedule has been presented since the extension was announced.”
Leek expressed his confusion over the prolonged transitional government, noting the lack of clarity regarding timing, planning, and the path forward.
He also voiced concerns that the chairperson of the High-Level Standing Committee for the Implementation of the Agreement had traveled to Nairobi to participate in the Tumaini negotiations, raising the possibility that the 2018 Peace Agreement might be abandoned in favor of the Nairobi Initiative.
Leek urged the high-level committee to inform the public about the timeline for the extensions. He stressed that the government must fund the security mechanism for phase two and deploy the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF), especially given the recent shooting incidents in Juba.
Brig. Gen. Samuel Chan, the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) Representative to CTSAMVM, called for the swift deployment of unified forces to address security concerns.
He stated, “Full deployment of unified forces is essential and a critical benchmark in addressing security issues. The primary goal of any nation is to achieve national security, and therefore, a strategic program is needed to fulfill the mission of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU).”
Chan condemned the operations of the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo, labeling the group as terrorists.
“Kidnapping civilians, especially along the Yei-Lasu Road and in some areas of Western Equatoria State, as well as targeting public transportation on the Juba-Mundri Road, constitutes terrorism. I urge NAS to recommit to the 2017 cessation of hostilities agreement and the 2020 Rome Declarations. They should seize the opportunity to participate in the Tumaini Initiative.”He added.
Attempts to reach a spokesperson for NAS for comment were unsuccessful.
