IGAD, South Sudan conspiring to extend transitional period, says civil rights group  

JUBA – A South Sudanese civil rights group is accusing the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which mediated the revitalized peace agreement, and the unity government in Juba of conspiring together to extend the transitional period to avoid elections in contrary to the wishes of the people of South Sudan.

In a statement, the People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) which was formed with the aim of galvanizing the citizens against the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny in mid-2021 said any extension would prolong the suffering of the people of South Sudan.

“Fellow citizens, the events of the past few months in South Sudan did not come as a surprise, they result from planned series of events to spur the need to EXTEND the Transitional Period,” the PCCA said in the statement a copy of which was extended to Sudans Post Monday.

“To extend the transitional period also means extending lawlessness, killings, displacements, humanitarian crises, human rights abuses, delays of outrageously meagre salaries, corruption, and growing debt/loans,” the strong-worded statement added.

It said the transitional government of national unity in Juba bears responsibility for the suffering of the people of South Sudan and that it is planning to extend the transitional period through the IGAD without the consent of the people of South Sudan.

“The RTGoNU bears full responsibility for the human suffering and financial costs resulting from the untenable transitional process under this stalled R-ARCSS,” the statement said.

“Therefore, the hatched conspiracy by the warlords in Juba to extend the transitional period through IGAD, without the consent of citizens, must be rejected frankly,” the statement added.

The statement went on to allege that “Sudan, the Chair of IGAD, will use its position to block any IGAD Council of Ministers meeting until there is only one month left to the end of the transitional period.”

The aim, the PCCA says, “is that, with one month left and so many provisions of the Agreement not fulfilled, IGAD will have no choice but to recommend extending the transitional period.”