By John Ikani
The South Sudan Parliament on Friday approved a two-year extension of the transitional period stipulated in the 2018 peace agreement and postponed the general elections until 2026.
The decision aligns with the agreement reached by the South Sudan Presidency and the endorsement of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC).
In an extraordinary sitting chaired by Jemma Nunu Kumba, the Speaker of the Transitional Legislative Assembly, the transitional constitution amendment Bill number 12, 2024, was amended to incorporate the extended transitional period.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ruben Madol Arol tabled the amendment Bill, which was swiftly passed by MPs without extensive deliberations.
Oliver Mori Benjamin, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Information, explained to reporters that MPs unanimously endorsed the extension of the transitional period until 22 February 2027, based on consultations with various stakeholders.
This extension applies to the national legislature, state legislative assemblies, and the three administrative areas.
Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), welcomed the parliament’s decision but urged the parties to prioritize the implementation of the remaining tasks of the peace agreement.
He emphasized the unprecedented speed with which the constitutional amendment bill was passed, expressing hope that this efficiency would extend to resource allocation, force unification, and constitution formulation.
The decision to extend the transitional government’s tenure comes a week after the parties agreed to postpone South Sudan’s long-awaited first general election since independence in 2011.
The 2018 peace deal between President Salva Kiir and opposition figures led to the formation of a transitional unity government in 2020.
