Citizens yet to reap from latest government restructuring- RJMEC

The Reconstituted Joint and Monitoring Commission (RJMEC) has said the common South Sudanese are yet to feel the positive impacts of the recent restructuring as part of the implementation of the 2018 peace deal.

In the latest report released on Thursday, covering April to June; the watchdog commission lauded the recent steps by the unity government to restructure the legislature. But it also pointed out that the common people are yet to see the fruits of such restructuring.

The report indicates that although there was the restructuring of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, its operationalization remains an issue yet to be cleared.

‘‘… whereas some provisions of the R-ARCSS were implemented during the period under review, overall, its critical aspects such as operationalization of the TNL to enable them to enact laws, completion of Phase I of the unification of forces, including operationalisation of the DDR processes, were not given the attention they deserve by the RTGoNU.

‘‘Consequently, the expected changes from the implementation of the R-ARCSS during the quarter did not positively impact the lives of ordinary citizens, particularly at the subnational level,’’ it reads in part.

‘‘It is therefore critical that the RTGoNU focuses its attention more to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the outstanding tasks on governance and Transitional Security Arrangements, as they are the bedrocks of the R-ARCSS,’’ it further adds.

Maj. Gen. Charles Gituai-led commission also recommended that CTSAMVM investigates the recent atrocities committed in Lainya County where a cleric and three other persons were abducted and brutally murdered in May 2021. South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) and National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Gen. Thomas Cirilo traded blame over the incident, with each camp accusing the other of targeting civilians.

‘‘Both the SSPDF and NAS denied responsibility for the incidents, but the SSPDF issued a statement stating that they were going to launch an investigation into the matter,’’ RMEC notes in the report.

Positive steps

According to the RJMEC, the country made positive steps after President Salva Kiir directed the Joint Defence Board (JDB) to assess the cantonment sites and ensure that trainees have access to essentials such as food supplies and medicine.

The commission says in the report, ‘‘Since this announcement, the JDB has conducted an assessment mission to all but four training centres in Greater Equatoria, Bhar El Ghazal and Upper Nile using three assessment teams.’’