By Sabri Dibaco
As South Sudan prepares to celebrate its 15th independence anniversary on 9 July, many citizens across the country renew calls for peace.
Boboya James Edmon, chief executive officer of the Institute of Social Policy Research and a policy analyst, said the revitalised agreement remains the country’s best pathway to lasting peace, democratic governance, and national reconciliation.
“The revitalised peace agreement remains the most viable framework for achieving lasting peace and political stability in South Sudan,” Boboyo said.
He warned that failure to implement the outstanding provisions of the agreement could undermine public confidence in the peace process and threaten the progress made since the signing of the accord.
Boboyo urged the peace parties to accelerate key reforms, including the unification and deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces, security sector reforms, the permanent constitution-making process, and preparations for credible and peaceful elections.
He said implementing the agreement in full would help restore stability, strengthen state institutions, improve service delivery, and create conditions for economic recovery.
The civil society leader also appealed to political leaders to put the interests of the nation ahead of political differences and use the Independence Day anniversary as an opportunity to renew their commitment to peace and national unity.
South Sudan became the world’s youngest nation on 9 July 2011 after gaining independence from Sudan through a referendum held under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
In an interaction with No. 1 Citizen Newspaper, Moses Baguga, a resident from Muniki, expressed frustration that the promise of independence has yet to translate into improved living conditions for many South Sudanese.
“People are struggling to feed their families because prices of basic commodities continue to rise, while many government employees have gone for months without receiving their salaries,” Baguga said.
Another citizen from the Western Equatoria state capital Mborifuko Emma, said recurring violence in parts of the country has left many families displaced and living in fear, adding that peace and security remain the people’s greatest expectations as the nation marks another year of independence.
The concerns come as a South Sudanese civil society leader calls on the country’s political leaders to urgently implement the 2018 agreement, warning that continued delays could jeopardise the country’s fragile political transition.
However, hopes for peace were shattered in December 2013 when political disagreements erupted into armed conflict, leading to widespread violence, displacement, and a severe humanitarian crisis.
In September 2018, the country’s rival parties signed the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), paving the way for the formation of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity. The agreement provides for security sector reforms, the drafting of a permanent constitution, institutional reforms, and democratic elections.
Despite progress in implementing some provisions, major tasks remain incomplete, including the full implementation of security arrangements, constitutional reforms, and election preparations.
At the same time, South Sudan continues to face serious economic challenges, including inflation, delayed salaries for civil servants, and the impact of recurring insecurity in several parts of the country.
As the nation marks its 15th anniversary of independence, many South Sudanese say their greatest wish is not only to celebrate independence but also to see lasting peace, improved security, timely salary payments, and better living conditions.