South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng & Benjamin Takpiny
Several South Sudanese have expressed mixed reactions following the extension of the transitional period for another two years.
Tut Gatluak Manime, presidential adviser on national security said during the closed door meeting of the presidency on Friday, that the extension will enable the parties to implement the critical pending peace tasks such as the enactment of the permanent constitution, population census, and the registration of political parties.
Martin Elia Lomuro, the minister of cabinet affairs said the extension followed the recent recommendations from both electoral institutions and the security sector.
The electoral institutions recommended the extension of the transition period to give enough time to complete the critical tasks necessary for the successful conduct of elections.
The extension of the transition period for another two years, according to John Bol provides opportunity for the country to hold free, fair and credible elections.
“It is a surprise to go for another extension, but I think it is a better option because the parties have not agreed on elections, they have not also implemented key tasks such as unification of forces considered a prerequisite for elections,” said Bol who is a primary school teacher in an interview on Saturday.
Wol Madut Aluak Reech, the Chairperson of the opposition Republican People’s Party said the two-year extension will enable political parties to prepare for credible elections by end of the year 2026.
“The extension of the transitional period was our request, the extension is highly welcome, we want elections which people are ready for, we want elections which people are prepared for,” said Reech.
“The doubt is that they will not implement pending tasks, will they implement the pending tasks? Overstaying of peace partners in power is better than bad elections, we need fair elections,” he added.
Monica Wani, a vegetable seller in Konyokonyo market said the parties need to work together to transition the country from post- conflict towards democratic governance.
“The extension is good for the parties to agree on how best they can transition the country from transitional arrangements to elections, it is an opportunity to address economic crisis and the growing insecurity in some parts of the country,” said Wani.
Ter Manyang Gatwech, the Executive Director for the Centre for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) said the extension of the transition period is the only option for implementing pending tasks.
He said the pending tasks include security arrangements, repatriation of South Sudanese refugees from neighboring countries, permanent constitution making, and conduct of population census and the establishment of the hybrid court.
“We express our support for the extension of the transitional period, this is the only way to maintain peace, we need to continue with relative peace until pending tasks are implemented,” said Gatwech.
In February 2022, the parties to the 2018 revitalized peace agreement extended the transition period till 2024 on the pretext of completing the outstanding issues within the peace agreement.