As South Sudan works hard to conclude the implementation of the 2018 peace deal, which ended a five-year conflict with an election, the minister of Interior has tasked the newly appointed spy chief with creating a conducive environment for free, fair, and credible elections.
Due to several uncompleted tasks of the peace deal, the Transitional Government of National Unity recently extended the transitional period by two more years, pushing elections to 2026.
Angelina Teny said on Tuesday during the reception of the new Director General of the Internal Security Bureau that the implementation of some of the provisions of the agreement lies with the security sector, including the National Security Service.
“We have just extended the life of our government, the transitional government of national unity, and in it, there were reasons and challenges why we had to extend. Part of this lies with us in the security sector and the National Security Service, both the Internal Bureau and the External Bureau,” said Teny.
The 2018 peace agreement, which focuses on critical security reforms such as the training, graduation, and deployment of unified forces to ensure the country's stability, has contributed to the polls' delay.
The unification of security forces remains unfinished, and the delayed reforms are vital for ensuring a peaceful transition.
"So, we have now the task to ensure that we complete the implementation of Chapter 2. That would enable us to create that environment that is needed for a free, fair, and credible election,” she added.
Security forces intelligence officers play a central role in safeguarding democratic values and ensuring the protection of citizens as the country moves towards democratic dispensation.
Though the constitution allows citizens under articles 24 and 25 to express their disappointments in the government through peaceful demonstrations, it often deploys heavily armed soldiers and detains perceived ringleaders.
In August 2021, the government arrested Kuel Aguer, a politician and former governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, for co-founding an alleged anti-government movement.
In December 2022, a special court in Juba dismissed the case and ordered his immediate release, citing lack of evidence.
“Each agency in the security sector has a clear mandate to stand out in our constitution, but all of us collectively have the mandate of upholding our constitution and protecting our citizens and the interests of this country,” Teny stated.
“In that mission, the role of the intelligence is pivotal because it contributes to the rest of the agencies, not only in the security sector but in the whole government, for everybody to believe us, to ensure a safe and a peaceful, stable environment.”
First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, head of opposition SPLM-IO, consistently demands the full implementation of the peace pact before elections, highlighting the unfulfilled key conditions of uniting forces and drafting a permanent constitution.
Teny, who is Dr. Machar’s wife, acknowledged these hurdles but emphasized the intelligence agency’s role in coordinating with other security institutions to build confidence in the country’s peace and democratic process.
