R-JMEC chief urges immediate formation of state governments, transitional parliament

JUBA – The interim chairperson of South Sudan’s peace monitoring body, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC), Charles Tai Gituai, is urging the parties to the revitalized pace agreement to immediately form the state governments as well as the transitional parliament.

Tai expressed deep concerns over the slow progress in formation of state governments urging the government to finalize it.

“There is a greater need to finalise the structures of government without further delay, and to complete nominations from all the Parties to the positions of governance, and reconstitute the Transitional National Legislative Assembly,” he stressed.

The head of the peace monitoring body advised the Parties to observe the 35% affirmative action for women’s representation in the state levels.

He revealed that 83,000 troops of the Unified Forces will soon graduate to take control of security.

“It is expected that troops of the Unified Forces will soon begin to be graduated, as this is a critical undertaking that will guarantee enduring peace and stability, and South Sudan will have the makings of a professional military like any other in the region,” he said.

Gen. Tai further called for speedy establishment of transitional justice mechanisms to hold perpetrators of human rights crimes during the conflict accountable.

“The three transitional justice mechanisms described in Chapter 5 are essential to atone for crimes committed during the dark days of conflict, which is the “untold human suffering”, that the Agreement acknowledges. In this regard, their expeditious establishment will be a great leap forward and RTGoNU support on this matter,” he said.