The adjournment of the Joint Stakeholders’ Dialogue from the 15th to the 19th, triggered by the absence of key representatives of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU), is more than a scheduling setback. It is a glaring indictment of South Sudan’s fragile peace process.
The non-attendance of the SPLM, National Agenda, and Former Political Detainees is not a mere procedural lapse; it is a direct violation of the commitments enshrined in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Their absence undermines the very spirit of inclusivity and consensus that the agreement was designed to uphold.
Meanwhile, the Expanded Presidency’s unilateral declaration that the transitional period cannot be extended, framed as a “Decision of Sovereignty,” raises troubling questions. Can sovereignty be invoked to bypass dialogue and silence stakeholders?
The SPLM-IO’s rejection of this move underscores the erosion of legality, inclusivity, and adherence to the agreement. If dialogue is treated as optional, then who truly governs South Sudan?
Political divisions remain entrenched, creating fertile ground for opportunism and exploitation. If dialogue collapses, accountability must not be evaded.
Citizens deserve clarity: will timelines for reforms, elections, and national unity be respected, or will they be sacrificed to political convenience?
The constitution of a three-member committee to engage the SPLM Secretary General is a step forward, but it is insufficient. South Sudan’s future cannot hinge on half-measures or symbolic gestures.
The R-ARCSS was envisioned as a roadmap to peace, stability, and shared governance. Without accountability, transparency, and genuine participation, it risks becoming a hollow framework manipulated by elites.
The time has come for leaders to prove that commitments under the agreement are binding obligations, not negotiable promises.
Anything less than full accountability is not just negligence; it is sabotage of South Sudan’s fragile peace, and history will remember those who chose excuses over responsibility.