Governor Louis Lobong has told South Sudanese to demand elections in order to salvage the country from the endless political wrangles.
The Eastern Equatoria State Governor stated that elites continue to scramble for positions through manipulation and blackmailing.
He believes local violence, killings, raiding, and child abduction, among others are not being properly addressed because those responsible are not accountable to the citizens.
“The intellectual leaders are the ones causing problems to you, but also to the government. To address all this issue you people should call on election and elect your own leaders who can lead you in the right way,” he Lobong told a rally in Machi on Saturday.
He emphasized that electing officials will help the government focus on service delivery rather than accommodating individuals interested only in power.
“The issue of scrambling for political positions you are hearing always on the leadership of Salva Kiir, it is the leaders doing all this.”
According to the revitalized peace deal, South Sudan is expected to hold its first post-independence elections two months before the end of the current transitional period. There are only 8 months left for the transitional period to end.
This year, President Salva Kiir said the general elections will take place as planned in 2023. But the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar said elections can’t take place under current conditions. His party, the SPLM-IO said it will likely boycott any elections in South Sudan over lack of political and civic space.
Last month, the head of the UN Mission in South Sudan urged the Transitional Government of National Unity to agree on a feasible timeline for conducting general elections.
Nicholas Haysom who is also the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in South Sudan said a tangible roadmap should be made public.
He believes this will help create a conducive political environment for parties and South Sudanese to engage freely ahead of the elections.