South Sudan peace parties urged to expedite resettlement of refugees, IDPs

South Sudan transitional government has been urged to facilitate voluntary, safe and dignified return and resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons ahead of the 2024 election.

Ter Manyang Gatwech, the Executive Director for the Centre of Peace and Advocacy (CPA) said in an interview on Sunday, that the parties to the 2018 revitalized peace deal should start facilitating the return and resettlement of displaced people amid the prevailing relative peace and security across the country.

“We call on the government to expedite the protection, voluntary and dignified repatriation, rehabilitation, resettlement and reintegration of IDPs and returnees,”Gatwech said.

He said the shrinking civic space remains major challenge for journalists, activists, human rights defenders and political leaders, adding that the peace agreement has not been disseminated at the subnational level.

“There is no collaboration between parties at the state levels due to lack of dissemination and understanding of the revitalized peace agreement, for example Jonglei, central Equatorial, Lakes, Western Equatoria and Warrap state,” Gatwech said.

Gatwech said the pending tasks that need to be implemented include the security arrangement, permanent constitution making process and the return and resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons.

The implementation of the peace agreement has been sluggish forcing the parties in August last year to extend the transitional period for another two years, pushing election to December 2024.