Europe South Sudan

European Union statement in the third RJMEC Extraordinary Meeting

BRUSSELS, 18 September 2024 / PRN Africa / -- The European Union takes note of the announcement by the political leaders of South Sudan to again extend the transitional period by 24 months.

We regret that another extension has become necessary and that the commitments made by the political leaders to the people of South Sudan were not delivered upon following the signing of the roadmap in August 2022 and a foreseen end of the transitional period in February 2025.

The R-ARCSS was designed to guarantee sustainable peace for the people of South Sudan, who have suffered from violence, insecurity and lack of rule of law for far too long. It remains essential to preserve the integrity and validity of this agreement.

It is now incumbent on the political leaders to ensure that the people of South Sudan are at last allowed to decide about their own future and that their aspirations are met. The two extra years need to make a difference at last. They have to be used effectively to implement the outstanding provisions of the R-ARCSS especially as regards a conducive and safe environment for free, fair and credible elections and a permanent constitution that reflects the will of the people. An important demonstration of political will be a swift response to the 10 key issues identified by the UN, AU and IGAD more than a year ago.

On Friday 13 September the Presidency “approved the measures recommended by the High Level Standing Committee to ensure strict adherence to the implementation of the adjusted timelines to accomplish the activities of the R-ARCSS/roadmap which are in progress or outstanding.” We would like to know what this means in practice. After the previous extension of the transition, we asked what is different this time. We pose the same question again.

Regarding funding, we expect the Government of South Sudan to make a commitment to use its own resources, including those from natural resources, to fund relevant institutions. I refer to 8.1 (v) of the endorsement of the Parties to the R-ARCSS of 10 September, which states, “the bulk of funding must be internally generated”.

The EU keeps supporting the Tumaini Initiative as a mean to facilitate the implementation of the peace agreement.

For the reasons stated above, the European Union abstains in the vote on the extension.

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SOURCE European External Action