CEPO Welcomes IGAD’s Endorsement of the 100-Day Extension of the Pre-Transitional Period in South Sudan
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MR. EDMUND YAKANI BERIZILIOUS is the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), a Juba-based South Sudanese civil society organization.
Press Statement: Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) welcomes the IGAD Council of Ministers Endorsement of the Entebbe Communique on the 100-Day Extension of the Pre-Transitional Period
Sunday, November 10, 2019 (PW) — IGAD Council of Minister meeting held in Ethiopia city of Addis Ababa today endorsed the outcomes of Kampala meeting on the extension of the pre-transitional period for again 100 days start from the 12th November 2019 to late 21st February 2019.
The IGAD Council of Ministers strongly urged the South Sudanese parties to use the extended 100 days for the accomplishment of the critical pending tasks of the pre-transitional period. The Kampala meet proposed establishment of high level military experts’ mechanism from IGAD member states to help South Sudan parties implement the pending security arrangements tasks. This mechanism is endorsed by IGAD Council of Ministers
Community Empowerment for Progress Organization welcomes the IGAD council of Ministers endorsement of the Kampala meeting Communique. This is remarkable move. IGAD role in influencing the South Sudan parties to implement the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan is paramount
Mr. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of CEPO said the South Sudan parties to the peace agreement is required to change attitudes and behaviors for making the 100 days realized. The 100 days without political will to implement the peace agreement can be nothing and more extension of the pre-transitional period will be demanded by the parties.
Among the required political attitude and behaviors needed for the success of the 100 days is adequate and timely release of funds to the peace implementation mechanisms, genuine use of the released funds and honesty in implementing the pending security arrangements
The newly established security mechanism from the IGSAD members’ states should the responsibility of influencing the parties for timely release of funds, honesty in security arrangement implementation, pressuring the parties to demilitarized civilians site, no recruitment of civilians into uniform, resolving the issue of women and children presence in cantonments, equal treatment of the forces in cantonment and barracks including speedy enactment of the amendments for the five security laws and incorporation of the R-ARCSS into the Transitional constitution by the current parliament. Mr. Yakani stressed
CEPO call upon the South Sudan parties take primary responsibility of implementing the peace agreement without external pressure. Matters of the distributing the ministerial portfolios, submission of list of parliamentarians, funding the DDR Commission and regular face-to-face meeting of the top leadership of the parties should not waiting till external pressure is exercise.
CEPO is calling upon AU C5 to strengthen their role in complementing IGAD in the implementation of the peace agreement. CEPO is calling AU C5 members state leadership proposed field visits to South Sudan to take place before 2020.
Finally, CEPO is calling upon IGAD to facilitate the South Sudan parties’ leadership retreat urgently within the first 10 days of the 50 days as a strategy of renewing pledge for genuine implementation of the peace agreement and rebuilding of trust and confidence. CEPO will be tracking the parties’ commitment for the 50 days
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