عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

UN Urges South Sudan to Agree on Elections

South Sudan National Police Service police officers sit on the back of a pickup truck while they gather ahead of patrolling the streets of Juba, South Sudan. (AFP)
South Sudan National Police Service police officers sit on the back of a pickup truck while they gather ahead of patrolling the streets of Juba, South Sudan. (AFP)
TT
20
TT

UN Urges South Sudan to Agree on Elections

South Sudan National Police Service police officers sit on the back of a pickup truck while they gather ahead of patrolling the streets of Juba, South Sudan. (AFP)
South Sudan National Police Service police officers sit on the back of a pickup truck while they gather ahead of patrolling the streets of Juba, South Sudan. (AFP)

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, urged the parties in South Sudan to implement the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict before the end of the transitional period in February 2023.

Guterres called for the completion of transitional security arrangements, agreeing on an electoral timetable, and "immediately engaging" in a broad-based discussion.

The Security Council discussed in New York the latest developments in South Sudan, based on the latest report submitted by the Secretary-General on the situation there, under Security Council Resolution No. 2625, which extended to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

Guterres expressed concern about "critical" benchmarks of the Revitalized Agreement that are still outstanding with limited time remaining before the end of the transitional period in February 2023.

Guterres warned that the peace agreement bears the risk of being afflicted by a cycle of extensions in the absence of tangible progress.

He firmly believed that the only viable course of action remains the Revitalized Peace Agreement's implementation, in letter and spirit.

He said the timely and full implementation of this agreement, including the forces' graduation, will assure the South Sudanese people that their leaders remain committed to the Revitalized Agreement.

"I, therefore, urge the government to prioritize this aspect and provide the necessary funds to the security mechanisms to enable, as soon as possible, the graduation, deployment, and operationalization of the necessary unified forces," stressed Guterres.

In this context, the UN chief welcomed the focus of President Salva Kiir Mayardit on reconciliation, saying the launch of the national consultation process on establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is an "important reference point in the implementation process."

He called on the presidency to reach a consensus on implementing the three transitional justice mechanisms: Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH), Hybrid Court, and Compensation and Reparation Authority, as stipulated in the Revitalized Agreement.

He also called on the Speaker and members of the parliament to accelerate deliberations on the critical bills, including the Political Parties Act, to ensure the transitional period will have the urgency it deserves.

Guterres admitted to the upcoming challenges, saying it is worrying that the parties have not agreed on an election date and must set a timetable.

He called on the parties to immediately engage in a wide-ranging discussion and agree on a clear roadmap for the transitional period.

Guterres added that the April 3 agreement proved the South Sudan leaders' ability to make real progress, noting that they should demonstrate the spirit of national leadership by completing the constitution and holding free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections.

However, the elections must be led by the people of South Sudan, and the United Nations is ready to provide the necessary support in this process if the government asks for help, said the UN chief.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Uncertain Future for the PFLP-GC in Post-Assad Syria

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Damascus on April 18 (AP) 
Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Damascus on April 18 (AP) 
TT
20
TT

Uncertain Future for the PFLP-GC in Post-Assad Syria

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Damascus on April 18 (AP) 
Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Damascus on April 18 (AP) 

The brief detention of Talal Naji, Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC), by Syrian authorities has renewed scrutiny over the status of Palestinian factions still operating in Syria, particularly those that aligned with the former Assad regime.

Naji’s arrest and swift release come amid a major political realignment following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. Once one of the most active and heavily armed Palestinian groups in Syria, the PFLP-GC now faces an uncertain future, along with other factions that were long tolerated—or even supported—under Assad’s rule.

A well-informed Palestinian source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the new Syrian administration has appointed a figure known as Abu Abdul Rahman al-Shami to oversee the file of Palestinian factions. Since assuming the role, al-Shami has convened multiple meetings with faction representatives, including regular attendees from the PFLP-GC, to discuss the fate of their fighters, weapons, property, and military infrastructure.

According to the source, al-Shami has made it clear that the new government intends to hold accountable any individuals or groups implicated in crimes against Syrian civilians during the civil war. Palestinian factions have been instructed to surrender all weapons and military equipment, and to limit their activities to humanitarian and relief work. The PFLP-GC, the source said, has largely complied.

Despite the fall of the Assad regime, Naji and much of the PFLP-GC’s second- and third-tier leadership have remained in Syria. Its offices in Damascus reportedly continue to operate, though under heightened scrutiny. Other faction leaders, however, have fled. Among them are Khaled Abdul Majid (Popular Struggle Front), Ziyad al-Saghir (Fatah–Intifada), Mohammad al-Saeed (Liwa al-Quds), and Saed Abdel Al (Free Palestine Movement). Most are believed to have sought refuge in Lebanon.

Sources confirmed that several PFLP-GC fighters have been detained in recent weeks in connection with alleged war crimes committed during their cooperation with Assad’s forces. The Syrian government has also moved to seize faction offices and military installations across the country, including properties belonging to Fatah–Intifada, the Free Palestine Movement, and the Sa’iqa Forces. Sa’iqa’s leader, Mohammad Qais, remains in Syria.

In a further blow, authorities have reportedly frozen bank accounts belonging to some Palestinian factions, both in state and private banks, although it remains unclear whether the PFLP-GC is among them.

Additionally, it is widely believed that the PFLP-GC has handed over its military training camps, which were previously spread across Damascus countryside, Daraa, Aleppo, and Suwayda. “The situation is extremely sensitive, and everyone is anxious,” one Palestinian source told Asharq Al-Awsat. “It’s likely they’ve surrendered those sites.”

The sense of unease deepened last month when Syrian authorities detained two senior Islamic Jihad officials in Damascus: Khaled Khaled, head of the group’s Syria bureau, and Abu Ali Yasser, its chief organizational officer. Both remain in custody, and no official charges have been announced.

The current atmosphere of fear and uncertainty has driven faction leaders to avoid public comment. Most now insist on anonymity when speaking to local or international media.

Before the outbreak of the Syrian uprising in March 2011, Syria hosted more than a dozen Palestinian factions. As the conflict escalated, the Assad regime encouraged the formation of new pro-regime groups, composed largely of Palestinian refugees, to fight alongside its forces.