South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir plans to announce a 24 months extension of the transitional period and a roadmap.

The transitional period in South Sudan began in February 2020, but the 2018 peace agreement’s key provisions remain largely unimplemented.

General elections are scheduled to be held 60 days before the end of the transitional period, which is in December 2022, yet many requisite laws are pending.

The parties recently formed a technical committee tasked with developing a detailed roadmap to move the country out of transition and lead to free and fair elections.

South Sudan’s parties to the peace agreement have already agreed on a 24-months roadmap for the country to exit the three-year transitional period.

“The high-level technical committee comprises all parties to the peace agreement has set the extension of the transitional period at 24 months, to be counted from 22 February 2023,” one of the sources said.

“The parties have agreed, and the president will announce the agreement reached on the extension of the transitional parties. The parties reaffirmed their commitment to implement the critical benchmarks,” he added.

The civil society groups have called on the parties to form a high-level ministerial committee to implement the critical tasks of the agreement to ensure smooth coordination.

They said what is needed is resources and a visible commitment by political leaders to take the necessary steps for the country to exit the transitional period.