The ongoing peace process in South Sudan has been marred by repeated delays.

Last year, signatories to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement agreed to a Roadmap intended to progress outstanding peace targets, including the country’s first ever elections, which were originally scheduled for February 2023.

This Roadmap gave South Sudan’s leaders time till December 2024 to ensure that necessary conditions—including the drafting of a permanent constitution, passing of key legislative bills, the formation of the National Elections Commission; and the graduation of the Necessary Unified Forces—were in place for citizens to finally head to the polls.

Today, this young nation stands at a critical moment in its history, and it has become more important than ever to galvanize momentum for a sustained, inclusive peace.

In this context, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in partnership with the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) and the African Union (AU), is facilitating a series of dialogues to foster understanding on how political parties can contribute to a peaceful democratic transition at the state level.

A crucial discussion point at the first such forum held in Western Bahr El Ghazal’s capital, Wau: Expanding civic and political space for unfettered discourse!

“We are bringing political parties together to start dialoguing on how they can ensure that they compete for elections in a respectful, credible, and responsible way that does not take the country back to violence,” stated Sam Muhumure, Head of the UNMISS Field Office in Wau.

This groundbreaking event saw more than 60 representatives of registered political parties in the state, civil society organizations, youth, and women’s representatives participate.

And with unprecedented frankness, they opened up.

“When it comes to a safe and open political space for everyone, we are concerned about the full implementation of the 35 per cent affirmative action that ensures greater participation from women,” averred Bahja Mohamed Alamin, Chairperson of the South Sudan Women’s Association in Western Bahr El Ghazal.

“I hope all political parties can create more space for women as we move forward,” she continued.