The Reconstituted National Election Commission has officially announced that South Sudan will hold elections in December this year as anticipated in accordance with the peace agreement.
Speaking during his reception in his office on Monday after swearing-in, the chairperson of the commission Prof. Abednego Akok said Civic Education is the first priority as the commission start preparation for elections.
“Our priority right now is to embark on civic education. Tell the masses all over South Sudan that election is being conducted,” Akok said. “After they are told this, we will come for registration everywhere. From 18-years above, will be registered anywhere they are in.”
Akok emphasized three stages which he said can be done quickly if the government provide the funding the commission need to undertake the process.
“There are only three stages, Civic education, Registration of voters and then voting. If we are serious, the resources are to be brought by the government. When there are resources, we will run it very smoothly without any difficulties,” he said.
“The government has taken decision that the election must be run. They will collect revenue to run the elections.”
According to the 2018, peace agreement, the election is to be held 60 days to the end of the transitional period -a time which falls to December 22, this year.
However, most of the provisions in the peace deal have not been implemented including the repatriation of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, completion of the security arrangement, Census and making of the permanent constitution among other critical tasks.
The government continued to propose that election should be held without permanent constitution and other tasks that not implemented. Oppositions have expressed concerns in holding elections with the unimplemented tasks.
The chairperson of the national constitutional review commission said earlier that the election can never be held without the constitution in place.
“According to the agreement, without the constitution, the election will not be possible,” Dr. Riang Yier Zuor told reporters in December last month refuting what the government spokesperson Michael Makuei said that election will be held without constitution.
“What we are saying is that the current constitution making process, yes! Will continue but we will continue with elections according to the current constitution. We will amend the current constitution so that it gives us the power to elect. The body that will be elected be a constituent assembly,” Makuei said.
Among other challenges that put election to questions, is the nationwide insecurity and impassable routes that could be used to reach the masses for civic education.
“One of the challenges is security issue which the government must take care of very carefully to see into it that all routes are passable,” AKok urges.
The nine members of the commission were sworn-in to the office on Monday to commence the preparation for the first ever general elections since the country gained its independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011.
With only a few months to the elections, South Sudan is yet to register political parties, candidates and work on geographical constituencies.
