JUBA – South Sudan’s transitional government risks collapse unless its rival parties decide by September whether to hold elections or extend their power-sharing deal, a lawmaker warned on Wednesday.
The government, formed under a 2018 peace agreement, is due to end on Sept. 22, and elections are scheduled for Dec. 22.
But a high-level committee tasked with evaluating the peace deal has yet to report its findings to President Salva Kiir, though sources said they have reached consensus for a twenty-four-month extension.
“As all of us are aware that this government is living on transitional period and this transition was extended through what we called Roadmap,” said lawmaker Peter Lomude yesterday.
“By the 22nd of September, that is next month, the whole government is supposed to be dissolved and the country is supposed to go for election by 22nd of December this year,” he added.
Lomude urged the presidency to speed up inter-party dialogue to decide the next steps.
“I would also like to seize this opportunity to urge the presidency and guarantors to the peace agreement to ensure that the fast-track dialogue of the political parties signatories to the peace agreement in order reach consensus whether we are going for election or not,” he said.
He also called for the parliament to summon the head of the national election commission to brief lawmakers on preparations for the polls.
First Deputy Speaker Nathaniel Oyet acknowledged the looming crisis and said the government was taking steps to address it.
He urged Lomude to submit his request to summon the election chief in writing.
“I am sure the executive of the revitalized government of national unity and the council of the ministries, and the ministry of justice – they are all aware of this situation,” Oyet said.
“And they are taking appropriate measures to ensure that the cope up with the looming legal crisis that may befall the country comes 22nd September, 2024,” he added.
