Elections will be watershed moment in country’s transition to democracy, says Cyril Ramaphosa
JUBA, South Sudan
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday reiterated his country’s commitment to support South Sudan to ensure a smooth end to the transitional period.
“We will provide every support possible within our means to ensure a democratic and peaceful end to the transitional period,” said South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, delivering Ramaphosa’s remarks.
Ramaphosa visited South Sudan on Tuesday and received a detailed briefing from President Salva Kiir Mayardit and other stakeholders on the status of the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which was signed on Sept. 12, 2018
The R-ARCSS is coming to an end on Feb. 22, 2025 and must be preceded by elections scheduled for December 2024.
While in Juba, Ramaphosa met with the parties to the peace agreement and discussed the progress on its implementation.
“As we return to South Africa, we are hopeful that the parties will continue to engage in dialogue and find consensus on outstanding issues of the implementation of the revitalized agreement so that the people of South Sudan can look forward to a peaceful and democratic end to the transitional period,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa said South Africa will hold general elections in May this year to afford their people their democratic right to choose their leaders.
“We are pleased that the National Elections Commission of South Sudan will observe our elections as part of the African Union Elections Observation Mission,” he said.
He said the people of South Sudan are eagerly waiting for the general elections, which will bring the end of the transitional period.
“These elections will be a watershed moment in the country’s transition to democracy. I understand that parties are engaged in a dialogue in order to agree on the necessary conditions for the holding of credible elections. This will require addressing the outstanding provisions of the revitalized agreement such as the adoption of the permanent constitution and the security arrangements.”
He said that lasting peace, stability and development will depend on how the collective leadership navigates the challenging times ahead.
“The revitalized agreement is a very comprehensive commitment on how to take the country forward, and the parties to it must be applauded. Progress in the implementation of the provisions of the R-ARCSS is laudable. However, more work is still outstanding,” he said.
Ramaphosa said that South Africa is deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict and humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, which is also affecting other countries in the region, including South Sudan.
“We support the role of IGAD and the AU in the resolution of the conflict in Sudan and we would like to see their efforts intensified in this regard,” he said, referring to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union.
On Feb. 22, 2020, South Sudan formed the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), which had long been provided for under Chapter 1 of the R-ARCSS signed between the government and opposition political parties to end years of ruinous conflict that has killed thousands of people and forced millions from their homes.
