No further extension of transitional period, parties to peace deal declare

Author: Madrama James | Published: 10 hours ago Presidential Affairs Minister Africano Mande Gedima reads a joint statement of the peace parties as their representatives stand beside him during a briefing at the State House on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. - Photo credit: Awan Mose/Eye Radio Representatives of the parties to the peace agreement announced that there will be no further extension of the transitional period. The announcement comes days after President Salva Kiir and the representatives of the parties to the 2018 peace deal agreed to postpone the population census and the permanent constitution making process until after the 2026 general elections. Both provisions are key pre-election requirements under the peace agreement. Speaking during a media briefing at the State House this afternoon, Minister of Presidential Affairs Africano Mande Gedima said the presidency unanimously approved amendments to the peace agreement to allow the December 2026 elections to take place. According to Africano Mande, who read the joint statement of the parties, the leadership has agreed to resolve political grievances through dialogue. “The expanded meeting of the presidency emphatically resolves that there shall be no further extension of (R-ARisCSS) transitional period beyond the current agreed timeline. Number two, the expanded meeting of the presidency unanimously agreed to the amendment of certain provisions of (ARCSS) in the transitional constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011 as amended, which are critical to establish the necessary legal framework for the conduct of the general election in December 2026,” he announced at the state house. Africano stated that the presidency also agreed to establish a committee to initiate the required amendments of the R-ARCiSS present them to the leaderships of the various signatories to pave way for the conduct of election in December 2026. He said the presidency also agreed that pending provisions of the peace agreement that cannot be completed before the elections will be paused until after the polls. “Leadership body of the parties, quote-in quote, which is the RTGoNU, SPLM, IO, SOA, SPLM, FDS, and OPP; signatories to the Revitalize Agreement have to address election-related matters, including grievances from the parties through dialogue,”he said. He revealed that the presidency has also directed for immediate completion of the transitional security arrangements under chapter 2 of the peace deal. “The expanded meeting of the presidency directs the immediate completion of the transitional security arrangements as mandated by Chapter 2 of the (ARCSS)… the expanded meeting of the presidency resolved that all other pending provisions of the (ARCSS) that cannot be completed prior to the national election shall be formally designated as paused (ARCSS) programs,” he added. Today’s briefing was attended by representatives of the SPLM, a faction of SPLM-IO under Stephen Par Kuol, the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, Former Detainees, and Other Opposition Parties (OPP). The parties also confirmed that the Ministry of Finance and Planning has been instructed to provide the required funds promptly to support the preparation and conduct of the December 2026 general elections.