By Yiep Joseph
Community Empowerment for Progress Organization has called on peace parties to shun selecting what to implement and what to leave in the agreement.
Executive Director of (CEPO) Edmund Yakani raised the concern after President Salva Kiir signed the amended constitution on Sunday that made previous extension to 2027 legal.
According to the statement seen by this outlet, Yakani urged parties to implement the agreement as a whole.
He said that the continuous extensions are a result of the parties showing less commitment in implementing some parts of the agreement.
“The newly extended transitional period can count or be meaningful only if the presidency and the leadership of the parties’ signatories to R-ARCSS stop the practice of selective implementation of the R-ARCSS provisions,” he said.
He added that the parties should learn from the past experience and avoid whatever could delay the implementation of the peace agreement.
Yakani appealed to the parties to show commitment immediately after extension.
He appealed to the Presidency to direct the Ministry of Finance to provide necessary funding for the peace implementation.
Yakani stated that a continuous delay in funding can make the recent extension not bring change with the previous ones.
“If the presidency fails to take the decision for directing the financing of the R-ARCSS implementation mechanism by the Ministry of Finance and Planning directly without dragging of feet nothing will count genuinely on the newly extended transitional period,” he said.
He added that selective funding of the R-ARCS mechanisms and political manipulations such as sponsorship of defection in security sectors remain challenges to peace implementation.
Yakani called on the presidency to constantly assess the process in the peace agreement.
“The presidency should be holding regular meetings on assessing the implementation of the R-ARCSS pending tasks,” he said.
He appealed to the government to ensure the success of the Tumaini Initiative.
He added that the initiative offers great chances for political inclusivity for delivering genuine political transitioning of the country from violence to peace.
CEPO Executive Director promises to always strengthen citizens’ oversight tracking of the political parties in demonstrating their claimed political will and commitment.