International appeals for peace process won’t materialize: UNMISS
By Denis Ejulu
The revitalized transitional government of national unity (R-TGoNU) has been asked to utilize locally generated financial resources to fund the extended peace roadmap instead of hoping for appeals to the international community for funds.
Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), said on Wednesday that they recognize the deep frustration and fatigue felt by the South Sudanese people at the seeming political paralysis in the country.
“I have noticed the various appeals for funds upfront, but let me be clear that requests for external and institutional financing not merely for constitution making, but for any aspect of South Sudan’s transition need to be backed up with demonstrable proof, that national financial resources are being prioritized for these long overdue steps,” said Haysom during a press conference held in Juba.
On September 13, this year, the presidency extended the transition period which was supposed to end with elections initially scheduled for December 2024. The transition period will now expire in February 2027, after elections are held in December 2026.
Haysom noted that the South Sudanese need to invest in their own democratic elections and processes before asking others to do so, adding that the international community also needs tangible evidence that the country’s leaders are genuinely committed to a democratic future.
“As things stand, there is international concern about the political stagnation here, public patience isn’t limitless,” he said.
The transitional unity government extended the transition period on the pretext of having not completed key outstanding peace tasks such as the enactment of the permanent constitution, and security arrangements.
Haysom said that the UN is prioritizing support in achieving concrete outcomes because the last thing they want is the fourth extension to take place towards 2026.
“Firstly, we are working with political parties at the national and state levels to raise awareness and what is required from them to hold elections, these include enabling them to have considerable political responses from their parties to the 10 questions that we asked the political class over one year ago and to date remain unanswered,” he said.
Haysom urged South Sudan’s leaders to find the compromises and modes of implementation of a critical mass of the key political and operational benchmarks set out in the R-ARCSS, adding that they must make this latest extension count.
“If they are to return the trust and confidence of the people, and let’s be clear from our perspective the clock is ticking right now, the clock doesn’t start in February next year,” he said.
Haysom also noted that voter registration is a critical issue now which needs to be undertaken immediately, adding that if the elections are mismanaged it raises the real prospect of activating a relapse into conflict.
He disclosed that in the past two years, the UN and partners have held extensive consultations with refugees and internally displaced persons both in the country and outside to get their take on what elections in South Sudan mean to them.
Haysom said that UNMISS also provides an opportunity for key stakeholders in South Sudan’s future at state and national levels, political parties, civil society, women and youth, security forces, and traditional leaders and communities, to be informed and bridge their differences on the electoral process.
In addition, the UNMISS chief expressed dissatisfaction with some draconian clauses within the National Security Service Act, that were quickly rushed through the national legislative assembly without amendments.
“I would like to express my concern on the proposed amendment to the National Security Service Act, as it stands now, there are several clauses that are barely compatible with democratic principles and will inevitably cast a shadow over elections; I and many other stakeholders have raised these concerns with government partners and urged to reconsider these clauses,” said Haysom.
