South Africa has expressed its support for the decision by South Sudanese parties to extend the transitional government by an additional two years, effectively postponing national elections originally scheduled for December 22.
According to the South Sudanese government, the extension is meant to provide the necessary time for the implementation of the remaining provisions of the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said on Wednesday that the South African leader commended the South Sudanese parties for reaching this consensus, stating that their decision bodes well for the ongoing implementation of the agreement.
“To this end, President Ramaphosa calls on South Sudanese Parties and the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) to spare no effort in implementing the outstanding provisions of the R-ARCSS and to maintain the peaceful atmosphere that has existed since September 2018,” Magwenya said.
Ramaphosa called on the RTGoNU to allocate adequate resources to ensure the effective functioning of institutions responsible for conducting free and fair elections.
He pledged South Africa’s commitment to supporting South Sudan to “realise the ideals for peace, democracy and development”.
The extension of the transitional period is ongoing efforts to stabilise South Sudan, a country that has faced significant challenges since its independence in 2011.
JN/APA