By Sabri Dibaco
The Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) has declared progress in peace implementation and the need for the country to go for elections.
The government said the peace parties say implementation of the 2018 peace agreement has crossed the halfway mark, ruling out any further extension of the transitional period.
The announcement followed a high-level meeting aimed at reviewing progress assessed remaining challenges.
Cabinet Affairs Minister Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro said the parties had reached a consensus that the transition must end in December 2026, describing the move as an urgent national priority.
“The parties unanimously agreed that the transition of South Sudan from the current revitalised transitional government of national unity to a democratically elected government is an urgent national necessity,” Lomuro said.
According to an implementation assessment presented during the meeting, 37 percent of the peace agreement has been fully implemented, while 16.5 percent is currently under implementation. Although 46.4 percent of the agreement’s provisions remain outstanding, the parties argued that combining completed activities with those actively underway places overall implementation at more than 54 percent.
The latest assessment reflects notable progress compared with August 2023, when only 30 percent of the agreement had been implemented, and most provisions remained pending.
The peace parties also agreed that the transitional period will not be extended beyond 22 December 2026, directing all government institutions to align their plans and resources toward delivering peaceful, credible, and democratic elections scheduled for 2 December.
Recognising that significant work still lies ahead, the parties appealed to the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), regional organisations, and international partners to continue supporting implementation of the peace agreement and the agreed electoral roadmap.
They urged RJMEC to integrate the resolutions adopted during the meeting into its monitoring framework, facilitate continued dialogue among the parties, and mobilise regional and international support for the country’s transition.
The meeting also concluded that recent amendments to key provisions of the peace agreement had addressed concerns previously raised by monitoring bodies and stakeholders regarding South Sudan’s preparedness for elections.
As part of preparations for the vote, the parties directed the immediate acceleration of transitional security arrangements, including the graduation and deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces, strengthening command structures, securing the electoral process, and enhancing civilian protection.
The leaders described the December 2026 elections as a historic opportunity to conclude South Sudan’s lengthy political transition and move the country from conflict and transitional governance toward constitutional democracy.
Signed in September 2018, the agreement was intended to end years of civil conflict and provide a roadmap for security reforms, constitution-making, institutional transformation, and democratic elections.
While implementation has repeatedly faced delays, the latest commitments signal renewed determination by the peace parties to complete the transition within the agreed timeframe.