The government of South Sudan through the ministry of Cabinet affairs has written a letter to the United Nations requesting for electoral assistance in preparing for the general election scheduled to take place in late December 2024.
In a letter dated 24 January, 2023 addressed to Nicholas Haysom, head of the UN mission in South Sudan, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs Dr. Martin Elia Lomoro said as the government commit to it pledge to implement the peace agreement and the roadmap; it has started preparing for the election.
“There is a need to begin planning and preparing for election including establishing the legal framework, reconstitution of the national elections commission, and working with political parties, civil society, and the media to raise public awareness and creating conditions for inclusive participation of citizens,” Elia said.
“The government of South Sudan hereby request the United Nations to provide electoral assistance to the government and relevance national institution in support to the preparation and conduct of peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections.”
Dr. Elia said the government would be grateful if necessary steps could be immediately taken to work towards the goal through the provision of electoral processes of South Sudan as envisioned in the agreement.
“We hope that with the continued support of the United Nations South Sudan will be able to build its institutions in a sustainable manner, further promoting transparency, credibility and trust in the country’s electoral processes,” Elia added.
As the UN is yet to respond to the request, the 2018 R-ARCSS states that the government of national unity shall conduct elections in 60 days before the end of the transitional period.
The election was scheduled to happened in 2023 but due to slow phase to implemented all the provisions in the agreement including the permanent constitution, the parties in August 2022 agreed on a new roadmap which extended the transitional period for another 24 months in order to complete the implementation of the remaining.
