South Sudan Civil Society Calls for Dialogue Among Peace Agreement Signatories

By Denilson Deneki

The South Sudan Civil Society Forum is urging the parties to the peace agreement to engage in political dialogue as the country nears the end of the transitional process and prepares for the upcoming general elections.

During a three-day dialogue session that concluded on Thursday, civil society activists discussed crucial issues hindering the transition, with a particular focus on the forthcoming elections.

Ms. Jackeline Nasiwa, who represented the civil society activists, addressed over hundreds at the Pyramid Continental Hotel during the dialogue, highlighting key discussion points.

“We reached important outcomes during our stay in Juba. This included the development of a civil society strategy for engaging in the transition, a media engagement strategy that was shared during the gathering, and resolutions that we all endorse and believe will contribute to South Sudan’s progress towards development and peace. We remain committed to supporting the transition and the parties involved in achieving lasting peace in South Sudan.”

Nasiwa urged the parties to the agreement to participate in inclusive inter-party dialogue to expedite the peace process leading up to the elections.

“We urge the parties to commit to inclusive inter-party dialogue, involving peace stakeholders and other political parties, to facilitate a smooth transition and sustain democratic progress in South Sudan,” she emphasized.

“We also call upon the international community to support the transition towards lasting peace, characterized by credible, free, peaceful, and fair elections. We urge IGAD to convene an inter-ministerial meeting promptly to address the stalemate surrounding the transitional processes and the current challenges facing South Sudan’s transition. Additionally, we call on IGAD to hold the parties accountable for their commitments and promises of peace to the people of South Sudan,” she added.

Wanga Emmanuel, representing grassroots civil society organizations at the forum, cautioned against altering the resolutions from the dialogue.

“We strongly urge that the content of the three documents we have presented here should remain intact as they reflect our collective views guided by the peace agreement framework. We demand accountability from the government; if they oppose our resolutions, they must provide viable alternatives. Should they choose to remain unchanged, we will hold them accountable,” he emphasized.

Ismail Wais, the IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan, affirmed IGAD’s commitment to supporting the people of South Sudan in ensuring fair and peaceful elections in 2024.

“Elections are crucial for the democratic transition of this country. We advocate for peaceful, fair, and credible elections. It’s imperative to prevent a return to conflict, as elections can be both constructive and divisive. Therefore, we must all strive for peaceful elections,” he asserted.

“IGAD stands in solidarity with the people of South Sudan as a guarantor of the peace agreement. We will remain steadfast in our support until this process reaches its conclusion,” he concluded.

Moving forward on elections depends on the parties meeting and engaging in dialogue openly and constructively, in the spirit of collegiality and consensus. In line with Article 7.10 of the Peace Agreement, RJMEC has written to the RTGoNU stressing the importance of inter-party consultations and constructive dialogue.