Yakani welcomes assurance of US government for continued support

JUBA – South Sudan activist Edmund Yakani has welcomed the assurance by the United States government for continuation of its support for the people of South Sudan amid years of conflict characterized by transitional periods between rival SPLM leaders.

The United States of America was leading a section of western countries such as Britain, Norway, and Canada in pushing for the independence of South Sudan at a time when the governments of Sudan in Khartoum were struggling to go along with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

On July 9, the 11^th anniversary of South Sudan’s independence, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken congratulated the people of South Sudan and reiterated his country’s commitment to continue the support for the people of South Sudan and urged the leaders to address the suffering of their people through the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

“On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of South Sudan on eleven years of independence,” Blinken said in a statement on Saturday.

“The United States stands with the people of South Sudan. We are committed to working with the transitional government, a free and open civil society, and regional and international partners to create a pathway towards a democratic future,” he added.

The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) welcomed the US assurance calling it ‘historic’ and said successful understanding between the US government the government in Juba is the primary responsibility of the government of South Sudan through the successful implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

“The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization welcomes the statement and assurance of USA stand with people of South Sudan. This is a historic stance and the assurance for the continuation of support is remarkable,” the CEPO said.

“The opportunity of USA and South Sudan governments working together is still higher and it depends South Sudan government primary political commitment for successful transitioning of the country from violence to peace in democratic manner through the R-ARCSS implementation,” it added.

Yakani who is the Executive Director of CEPO said that “it is now up to the government of South Sudan to engage with USA leadership through genuine dialogue on approaches to meet the clear mentioned USA expectations stipulated in the issued statement to be met by the government of South Sudan.”

“South Sudan government should take serious step of opening up serious dialogue with USA leadership for peaceful transition from violence to peace through renewal of political pledge on genuine implementation of R-ARCSS,” he added.

Yakani stressed that the “leadership of South Sudan has a chance to engage with USA government for a bigger and win-win gain of the two countries.”

“The principle of the engagement is genuine implementation of the R-ARCSS that leads to democratic transformation of the situation from violence to peace through deliverance of legislations, policies and institutional reforms, unified security sector and conduct of credible elections.

“Dialogue with genuine political commitment and will is the best option on the table for gaining functional relation with USA leadership.

“Finally CEPO is urging the leadership of Juba to take advantage of a dialogue for genuine political transition of the situation in South Sudan. CEPO will be organizing roundtable for R-ARCSS future deliberations across the country in later July, 2022.”