A top UN official, Nicholas Haysom, says South Sudan has made history with the appointment of two women to senior leadership positions within its Transitional National Legislature.

Mr Haysom, UN Special Representative and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), said this while briefing Security Council virtually at UN headquarters, New York.

He urged parties to build on these gains in efforts to overcome significant political and security headwinds.

The top official said August 30 saw the inauguration of the reconstituted parliament, with members sworn in on August 2 – including the first female Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and female Deputy Speaker of the Council of States.

“This development paves the way for a much-delayed charge on the legislative programme envisaged by the Peace Agreement,” he said, stressing that the reconstitution of state legislatures must now complement it.

He said the extensive legislative agenda included passage of priority bills already prepared by the National Constitution Amendment Committee to reform security, financial, judicial, constitutional, and electoral institutions.

With September 12 marking the third anniversary of the revitalised peace agreement in South Sudan, “certainly, the reconstitution of the national parliament presents an opportunity to infuse urgency in the implementation of the peace process,” he stressed.

Mr Haysom added that a ministerial task force had presented a bill on the constitution-making process to the Minister of Justice and regional development body IGAD.

The constitution-making process – an important peace process benchmark – marks a critical step forward in its own right, the Mission chief said, signifying a social contract between all South Sudanese on the arrangements by which they can live together in peace and harmony.

In parallel, electoral preparations should be conducted, he said.

“While there is no consensus on the timelines, the two extensions to the transitional period would see elections being held in early 2023, requiring the completion of a voters’ register by late 2022, said Mr Haysom. “Without adequate technical and political preparations, this event could be a catastrophe instead of a national turning point.’’

(NAN)