Civil society leader Edmond Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, has called for an inclusive and meaningful inter-party-political dialogue to help pave the way for a peaceful political transition in South Sudan. The dialogue, which began in Juba, brings together parties to the 2018 peace agreement and other stakeholders to discuss several issues, including the planned December 22 elections to end the current transitional period.
Yakani emphasized that the dialogue provides an important opportunity for political actors to address their differences through peaceful means rather than violence. He noted that the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement has fallen short of expectations, citing a deficit of trust and confidence among political leaders who signed the agreement. Yakani's comments come following the dissolution of the transitional government on Tuesday.
Yakani urged the government to ensure that the dialogue brings together all parties that signed the 2018 peace agreement, saying the process should be open and free from preconditions. He also called for the release of political detainees as part of efforts to demonstrate commitment to reconciliation and peaceful coexistence. Yakani said elections cannot be considered inclusive if political actors remain detained or if civic and political space is restricted.
The civil society leader also called for greater transparency in the use of public resources and equal political space for all political actors ahead of the planned elections. He stressed that dialogue is essential among political actors with discontented positions, and that violence should be avoided. Yakani's call for inclusive dialogue comes as regional leaders are expected to attend the inter-party dialogue on elections.
The inter-party dialogue is expected to discuss several issues, including the planned December 22 elections, which aim to end the current transitional period. The transitional government was dissolved on Tuesday, paving the way for the new political process. Yakani's organization, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, is one of the civil society groups advocating for peaceful and inclusive elections.
The European Union has warned that the caretaker government faces a growing humanitarian crisis, and other international partners have expressed concerns about the country's readiness for elections. Despite these challenges, Yakani remains hopeful that the inter-party dialogue will help create a peaceful and inclusive transition. He emphasized that all parties to the 2018 peace agreement must be included in the dialogue.
Yakani's call for inclusive dialogue and peaceful elections has been echoed by other stakeholders, including Governor Jadalla, who urged unity and collective action ahead of the December elections. The inter-party dialogue is expected to continue in the coming days, with regional leaders and other stakeholders participating in the discussions.
Key points
- Civil society leader Edmond Yakani calls for inclusive and meaningful inter-party dialogue ahead of December 22 elections.
- Yakani urges government to ensure dialogue is open and free from preconditions, and that all parties to 2018 peace agreement are included.
- Inter-party dialogue aims to address differences through peaceful means, and create a peaceful and inclusive transition.
