South Sudan opposition groups reject extension of transitional period, call for technocratic government

JUBA – At least five South Sudan holdout opposition groups have rejected rumored plans by President Salva Kiir Mayardit for extension of the transitional period, calling for a high-level meeting of all political forces outside the country to pave way for formation of a technocratic or hybrid government, according to a statement extended to Sudans Post.

In the statement, General Thomas Cirilo, the leader of the National Salvation Front (NA), Pagan Amum Okiech, leader of the Real SPLM, General Paul Malong Awan, leader of the South Sudan United Front (SSUF), Emmanuel Ajawin, leader of the National Democratic Movement (NDM-PF), Thomas Tut Doap, leader of the UDRM and Alex Yatta Lukadi, leader of the SSNM, said they reject any extension of the transitional period.

“The Interim Period of R-TGONU is coming to an end by February 2023, and as he has done in the past, President Salva Kiir Mayardit is now stealthily planning to extend his term in office. The regime is also planning to hold sham elections to steal legitimacy without the mandate expressed through the will of the people,” the five opposition leaders said in the statement.

“Due to this unattainable reality, it is incumbent upon all the stakeholders in the country, from the political organizations, civil society, faith-based organizations, women, and youth groups to collectively reject the extension of the period of R-TGONU and decide the future of the country to avoid its collapse into chaos and disintegration,” they added.

While empathizing the right of the people of South Sudan to live in peace and harmony, the groups who walked out of peace talks ahead of the signing of the revitalized peace agreement in mid-2018 called on all the political forces in the country, faith-based groups and civil society organizations to meet outside the country to discuss formation of a technocratic government.

“We the Non-Signatory South Sudan Opposition Parties, who rejected the R-ARCSS, and now driven by the noble goal to rescue our state and our nation from collapse and disintegration, call on all south Sudanese political forces and all the other South Sudanese stakeholders from civil society, faith based, women and youth organizations to forge a way forward, formalizing the current discussion and to build consensus which will lead to the establishment of a New transition with a government of Technocrats/Hybrid government, as the R-TGONU Transitional Period comes to an end by February 2023,” they said.

“We call on all the South Sudanese stakeholders to convene a round table conference in a neutral venue conducive to freely exchange ideas about the fate of the country and to agree on a new dispensation beyond February 2023,” the rebel leaders added in the strong-worded statement.

They further appealed to regional organizations, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which mediated the revitalized peace agreement, and powerful South Sudan friends such as the Troika, to support the initiative which they said is aimed at rescuing South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, from collapse.
“We also call on our regional and continental organizations; the East African Community, IGAD and the African Union as well as on the United Nation and members of TROIKA and indeed all the friends of South Sudan to support this inclusive call for the holding of a ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE and to render the necessary support for its success in rescuing South Sudan from total collapse,” they said.