The main armed opposition group, SPLM/A-IO led by the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny has objected any move to hold general election before completion of key outstanding tasks provided for in the revitalised agreement document.

“It is not just about giving a statement that election will be held in 2023. We are not against it, but to reach election, we need to implement the agreement,” said Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, SPLM-IO Spokesperson who is also the National Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation.

Mr. Manawa (pictured) was reacting to last Wednesday’s statement by the Presidential Press Secretary Ateny Wek Ateny saying the general election would be held in June 2023.

Manawa added, “This thing will happen if we have the political will in place. Now we agreed that we should not go back to war, now we should have the political will to implement the agreement. This one will lead us to transitional justice, accountability, reconciliation and healing.”

“We should reconcile our people and we implement security arrangement and then we finalize the permanent constitution, then it will be easy for us to conduct the election.”

According to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sedan (R-ARCRSS), parties would conduct election at the end of the transitional period, comes 2022.

The R-ARCRSS provides for implementation of critical tasks ahead of general election such as security arrangement provisions, transitional justice and reconciliation, repatriation of refugees and IDPs as well as national population and household census.

However, the process of registration, cantoning, training, graduating and redeployment of 83 0000 Necessary Unified Forces, critical to overall peace agreement is yet to be fully implemented.

The Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement, Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism has been reporting devastating situation at training centres and cantonment sites, with close to half forces deserting due to lack of food, safe and clean drinking water and medicines.

“We agreed that we should implement Chapter Three, resource and economic and financial management. This includes institutional reform in the country and the agreement is clear about justice and reconciliation. How do you go for election without implementing these?” Manawa asked.