Juba/New York, September 27, 2024 (SSNA) — South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ramadhan Abdalla Mohammed Goc, told the United Nations in New York on Thursday that the transitional government of South Sudan and elections have been extended due to a lack of funds.
The minister informed delegates and dignitaries at the 79th UN General Assembly that the lack of financial and technical support from international peace partners has made it impossible for the signatories of the September 2018 revitalized peace agreement to fully implement the accord.
Ramadhan also declared to the UN assembly that efforts to implement the agreement have been “constrained by resource challenges” and called on the international community to support the extension.
The claim of a lack of funds has been echoed by some government officials since South Sudan’s Presidency agreed to extend the revitalized transitional period and elections.
However, many independent observers pointed out that the 24-month extension of the transitional period and elections were not primarily due to financial issues, asserting that parties to the agreement, specifically President Salva Kiir, deliberately created conditions that made it impossible for the accord to be executed.
The 24-month extension begins in February 2025 and ends in February 2026. Elections were previously scheduled to take place in December this year.