The chairperson of specialized committee for peace in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Legislative Assembly has asked the people to vote for “the right leaders’ in the 2024 general elections.
Hon. Wol Aluk made the remarks during a peace rally attended by over five hundred people in Aweil South County headquarters on Monday.
The was meant to disseminate roadmap implementation and way forward to the expected general elections. The event was organized by United Nations Mission in South Sudan UNMISS.
According to the peace government formed after 2018 revitalized peace agreement, South Sudan is expected to go for the first-ever elections in December 2024.
Hon Wol says people need to prepare to elect the right leaders despite the challenges.
“I want my community to prepare and vote for the right leaders despite the challenges,” he proclaimed. “Yes, South Sudan will go for elections because everyone wants this country to have peace.”
More than a decade after independence, South Sudan remains impacted by fragility, economic stagnation, and instability. Poverty is ubiquitous, exacerbated by conflict, displacement, and external shocks.
Over the years, officials are appointed by the president through a republican decree. These include parliamentarians, state governors, and county commissioners – a style of leadership many argue is a cause of South Sudan’s problems since the appointees only account to the president, not the people.
Meanwhile, some of the community members who attended the peace rally urged the government to improve security before the elections.
They said this would encourage people to vote for government of the people, by the people, for the people through regular, free, and fair elections.
Last week, the activist Edmund Yakani in Voice of Peace program said the country was not up to date in good preparation for elections as much remains to be done.
Several other observers, including UN and diplomatic corps representatives have expressed doubt of holding the elections, especially when key provisions in the peace deal remain unimplemented.