South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Thursday welcomed the reconstitution of the National Elections Commission, the Political Parties Council and the National Constitutional Review Commission.
President Salva Kiir reconstituted last week the three key electoral bodies and appointed officials to lead them as the country prepares for the election to be held in December 2024.
RJMEC interim chairperson, Charles Tai Gituai said that the Political Parties Council is mandated to register, monitor, and regulate the activities of political parties, while the National Constitutional Review Commission will drive forward the permanent constitution making process and the National Elections Commission will undertake preparations for the conduct of elections.
“The reconstitution of these institutions is a welcome development and I commend the parties to the agreement for this milestone,” Gituai said during the RJMEC monthly plenary meeting held in Juba.
He disclosed that their effective functioning will pave the way towards the widening of civil and political space, the completion of the permanent constitution, as well as the timely conduct of elections.
For his part, Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS said the credibility of these bodies begins with establishing public trust and confidence in these institutions from their inception.
“Let me start by welcoming the recent reconstitution of the National Elections Commission, Political Parties Council and National Constitutional Review Commission. However, the credibility of these bodies begins with establishing public trust and confidence in these institutions from their inception,” Haysom said.
He encouraged the government to urgently and amicably address the concerns raised by different parties related to the reconstitution of these bodies.
“This includes ensuring the buy-in of all the parties on the way forward. Additionally, the limited participation of women must be addressed, and a clear plan should be developed to expedite their operationalization so as to ensure these institutions are adequately resourced and have the required capabilities to deliver on their critical mandates,” Haysom said.
In a decree read on the state-owned television, SSBC, President Kiir reappointed incumbent National Elections Commission chairperson, Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), while Michael Yabagayo of South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) was appointed deputy chairperson.
Mac Maika Deng, a civil servant, was retained as the Chief Electoral Officer.
In addition, Riang Yier Zuor from the SPLM-in opposition was appointed chairperson of the National Constitutional Review Commission, Awak Bior Ajang of SPLM is the deputy chairperson, and Abraham John Nathana, a civil servant was appointed secretary of NCRC secretary.
Kiir also appointed members of the Political Parties Council including James Akol Zakayo as chairperson, Lona Loduro as deputy chairperson, and Peter James Lemi, as executive secretary.
