Haysom calls for 2018 peace deal wrap up

The head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom, has urged the government to complete the remaining chapters of the peace deal and set a date for elections.

At a news conference in Juba yesterday, Haysom, the UN Secretary-General’s special representative for South Sudan, told reporters at a news conference that the mission is ready to assist the government and the people of South Sudan in holding elections and establishing the appropriate political institutions to manage the poll.

“Holding timely elections remains a sovereign decision of the people and the government of South Sudan,’’ he said in Juba yesterday.

Ratifying the Political Parties Act, completing the permanent constitution-making process, unifying the forces, and achieving transitional justice are some of the critical tasks to be completed before holding an election.

According to Haysom, the parties to the agreement must accomplish the remaining tasks within the remaining 10 months to the end of the transitional period to maintain the dream of having an election.

“The way is now open for a search for other critical tasks, including transitional justice, undertaking financial, legal, and judicial reforms, and the constitution-making process, which is fundamental in building a new social contract to underpin pined national unity,’’ Haysom said, as he lauded the formation of the unified command structure.

Still far but necessary

According to the UN boss, South Sudan cannot hold elections as at now due to a lack of technical prerequisites. He stated that the electoral monitoring body does not exist, that no laws have been established, and that the structures required to conduct elections in South Sudan are lacking.

 “UNMISS is committed to providing technical support and working with local organisations to encourage an understanding of the constitution-making process and to ensure that the process is inclusive,” he said.

“I would want to underscore the range of technical preparations which will be necessary to hold elections under the difficult circumstances in South Sudan. If these preparations are overdue and complex, then I would also want to point out that the political environment is equally important for the holding of elections, creating as it does the atmosphere in which a competitive political process can be undertaken,’’ he added.

He advised the government not to return the country to war and urged non-signatory parties to the accord to continue supporting the peace process until it is completed to provide a conducive environment for peaceful elections.

“We continue to support the St. Egidio community that promotes discussions on the different visions for the transition rather than violence as a means of reconciliation.” All have a duty to build peace, even the holdouts.”

The United Nations, the UN peacekeeping mission, the peace monitoring bodies, civil society, and some of the parties implementing the accord have all cautioned against holding elections in South Sudan without first putting in place the crucial provisions of the peace deal that are prerequisites to having free and fair elections.

However, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), a peace accord partner, has always advocated that elections be held at the end of the transitional period. The SPLM has warned against the continued adjournment of elections, arguing that the people of South Sudan are tired and deserve a chance to elect their leaders.

Provisions such as the agreement’s permanent constitution-making process must be done and completed within 24 months of the Transitional Period’s inception and must be in place to ensure the Transitional Period’s effectiveness.

The agreement stipulates that ‘‘within the first six months of the Transitional Period, the reconstituted TNLA shall establish legislation to govern the constitutional-making process.’’

It also states that ‘‘during the transitional period, the RTGoNU will launch and oversee a permanent constitution-making process, which will be based on the principles of South Sudanese people’s supremacy according to the agreement.’’

Article (1.20.1) states that the reconstituted National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) will review the Political Parties Act, 2012, and ensure that it complies with international best practices for the free and democratic registration of political parties in South Sudan, and will present a draft Bill to the National Legislative Assembly for adoption through the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.