President Salva Kiir has continued to express confidence in the holding of elections in December this year despite Machar’s concern that the country is not ready for polls.
In meetings with the head of UN mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom and Europian Union Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, Dr. Annette Weber on Tuesday in Juba, Kiir expressed optimism in timely holding of free, fair and credible elections in December this year.
“Kiir reassured the Head of UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom, of Government’s commitment to fully implement the Agreement and prepare the country for the conduct of democratic elections set for December this year,” statement from the office of the president partly reads.
As requested earlier last year by the government, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Nicholas Haysom reiterated that: “UN is ready to support South Sudan’s transition to democratic elections.”
However, the UN high ranking official has severally said in the past statements that South Sudan is not yet ready for elections and that ‘it’s impossible to envision credible elections in2024.‘
Last week, first vice president and leader of the main opposition -The SPLM-IO, Dr. Riek Machar said his party is ready to take part in the democratic elections but argues that the prerequisites which must be in place for credible elections to happen, are not yet completed.
As of today, Machar says the country is not ready to hold elections.
Cabinet Affairs Minister, Dr. Martin Elia Lomoro said South Sudan capable and ready to hold elections in December this year.
“The Government will deliver transparent, free and inclusive elections to the people of South Sudan,” said Lomuro.
On her part, the EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, Dr. Annette Weber, called on the parties to the Agreement: “To work together to maintain peace, protect human rights, and prepare a conducive environment for inclusive general elections at the end of transitional period.”
The Envoy further stressed the importance of empowering the National Election Commission to conduct free and fair general elections.
Last week, the chairperson of the National election Commission, Prof. Abednego Akok said the commission needs 250 billion South Sudanese pounds to prepare the country for December election.
South Sudan is scheduled to hold its first-ever general elections on December 22, 2024, since the country gained Independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011.
