Why transitional period should be extended

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Why transitional period should be extended
Hellen Achayo | August 15, 2017 | 1:12 pm
President Kiir signs the deal on 26 August 2015 in presence of regional leaders.

A research institute and a civil society group say the transitional
period should be extended to allow for implementation of important
provisions in the 2015 peace deal.

The Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan
indicates that the transitional period should end next year.

The Center for Peace and Development and the Voluntary Civil Society
Task Force say 75 percent of the transitional period has elapsed
“without significant achievements”.

Over 25 percent of the provisions have not been implemented by the
primary parties, according to the groups.

Rajab Mohandis, the executive director South Sudanese Network for
Democracy and Elections (SSuNDE), who spoke on behalf of the two
groups said it is impossible to complete the remaining parts of the
deal in the given time-frame.

“The agreement did not succeed in ending violence, restoring
stability, reforming public institutions and improving the living
conditions of ordinary citizens across South Sudan,” he told the media
Monday.

“It’s therefore no longer possible to complete the remaining bulk of
commitments of the peace agreement within the specified timeframe of
the transitional period,” Mohandis argues.

The IGAD proposed revitalization forum to be held next month will
develop a revised and realistic timeline and implementation schedule
towards a democratic election at the end of the transitional period.

“The renewed timeline should be flexible in permitting a very limited
extension of the transitional period to June 2020 to allow for full
implementation of the revitalized agreement,” he added.