Civil society leader Edmund Yakani says he is in support of
the conduct of the first-ever general elections later this year.
The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization
executive director’s comment comes after he met President Salva Kiir at his
office in Juba on Wednesday over the contentious matter.
Though the elections have been slated for December, many
believe that it would not be credible, free, and fair, especially if the peace
parties do not implement the key requirements.
These include a new permanent constitutional framework;
voter registration details; an election security plan; well trained, equipped,
and unified security forces; and a mechanism for resolving disputes over
results.
However, Kiir and members of his party, SPLM, argue that it
is possible to hold the elections without the implementation of the key
provisions.
During the meeting, Yakani agreed with Kiir, saying elections
must go ahead as scheduled, because the citizens are “fed up with the transitional
period”.
In August 2022, the signatories to the peace pact signed a
two-year extension of the transitional government, in a move foreign partners
warned lacked legitimacy.
This was the second time the parties extended the
transitional period.
“We reached a consensus on these particular issues, and we
agree that the election must be conducted without any delay or postponement,”
Yakani told reporters in a recorded audio statement.
“No more extension of the transitional period because people
are fed up with the transitional period, and I will continue with this period
of meeting the principals who are leaders of the parties to the revitalized
peace agreement.”
The main opposition party, SPLM-IO, has, however, maintains
that it is ready for elections but only if the conditions are met.
With parties holding different opinions about the conduct of
elections in December 2024, Yakani said he is embarking on meeting all the
principals and party leaders to see into it that progress and compromises are
made to establish a democratic government at the end of the transitional period
in February 2025.
“Our campaign is that elections must be conducted without
any delay or extension of the transitional period because at the end of the
transitional period, we have no option than to see a democratic government
established,” Yakani stated.
The activist urged the parties and the country leadership to
demonstrate commitment towards creating a conducive environment for the conduct
of elections.
