SOUTH SUDAN: Presidency Approves Amendments To 2018 Peace Agreement

By Debora Akur Chol,South Sudan

The Presidency on Wednesday unanimously approved key amendments to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) during an expanded meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir. The move is aimed at accelerating preparations for national elections.

The decision follows a communiqué issued after last week’s Presidency meeting, which underscored the urgent need to revise certain provisions of the peace agreement that have continued to impede the electoral process.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr Martin Elia Lomuro, said the approved amendments will now proceed through the necessary institutional processes.

He explained that the draft amendments will first be presented to the Council of Ministers, after which they will be submitted to the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC). The amendments will then be tabled before the National Legislative Assembly for debate and final approval.

During the session, the Presidency and representatives of political parties reaffirmed their commitment to holding elections next year, describing the polls as a critical milestone toward establishing a conducive environment for national development and sustainable peace.

Leaders noted that once endorsed by the relevant institutions, the proposed amendments are expected to address long-standing challenges and place South Sudan on a clear path toward conducting its first democratic elections since independence.