UNMISS, RJMEC, highlight progress as well as the key issues dragging the country’s journey towards peace and elections

By Lodu William

A top United Nations (UN) official in South Sudan has urged the government of South Sudan to urgently fulfill peace benchmarks to conduct the election in December 2026.

Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) stated that the constitution-making and census timelines do not currently fit into the framework for a December 2026 election.

He said lack of government funding as well as delayed legal and political decisions are slowing down these necessary processes.

“The parties should be under no illusions that there will be resources from the international community to sponsor the implementation of the peace agreement, ending with elections if there is no evidence of the political will to accelerate the implementation of the key benchmarks,” said Haysom.

He highlighted the importance of commitments to expanding political and civic space, enhancing access to justice through mobile courts, progress in operationalizing the National Elections Commission, and election security training, Secretary General.

However, he noted that none of these are sufficient to “move the needle” on the critical decisions required for elections.

He warned that as South Sudan continues to grapple with humanitarian, economic and security challenges, the situation will remain fragile as an electoral period draws nearer.

On a positive note, he said UNMISS would continue to robustly protect civilians, enhance human rights and the rule of law, as well as support the peace process, within its mandate and capacities.

 “I affirm that UNMISS stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of South Sudan on their journey from conflict to stabilization and democratization,” he stated.

Speaking under the same tone, during its presentation to the UN Security Council, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) said despite the National Elections Commission (NEC) completing its plans and opening offices in the ten states, financial constraints remain a hindrance to progress in the preparation for elections.

“Although, as previously reported, the Political Parties Council has already registered 29 political parties, the elections laws stipulate that Parties with armed forces cannot be registered until they relinquish their forces through the process of unification,” RJMEC said.

The peace monitor pointed to parties such as the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO among others within the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), to be among those that are yet to relinquish their forces.

“This therefore underscores the need to hasten the unification of forces so that these Parties can participate in the elections,” the Commission advised.