By Charles K Mark
Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has called upon political leaders to urgently meet and decide on the fate of elections.
In a press statement, Yakani welcomed the release of the Elections Calendar by the National Elections Commission and urged Kiir and his counterparts to prioritize a peaceful transition.
He noted that while the calendar is a positive step, it will not settle the outstanding matters.
Therefore, the leaders should address these issues before embarking on pre-election activities and making the calendar public.
“Serious political commitment and will is required from the presidency with full consensus on the conduct of the elections by December 2024 otherwise, the political leadership will be facing another shame before the citizens they claim to govern,” Yakani stated.
He discouraged any plans towards extension of the transitional period without concrete results for the realization of stability.
Mr. Yakani said such moves demonstrate political weakness in respecting efforts for political stabilization.
“Practical indicator of sovereignty is taking primary responsibility and holding elections as scheduled through political parties’ inclusive decision making,” he stated.
The activist Clled for an urgent meeting of the presidency before late March 2024.
He said a political dialogue will help iron out some outstanding matters.
“The presidency and political parties have to urgently meet but the meeting should be inclusive in manner.”
With less than 8 months to the conduct of elections, there is seemingly no consensus among the parties on whether the elections should take place or not.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Government (SPLM-IG) has firmly maintained that elections will proceed as scheduled this year.
However, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) seems to differ. Recently it proposed that the transitional government be extended for an additional 24 months before conducting elections.
The SPLM-IO argue that the extension would allow for the enactment of a permanent constitution and the completion of other pending tasks outlined in the peace roadmap.
The Umbrella of Other Political Parties (OPP) and the South Sudan African National Union Party have also rejected the two-year extension proposal, expressing their readiness for the elections.
But the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) recently warned that time is running out for the implementation of security arrangements as elections draw closer.
Chairperson of the peace monitoring body, Hailu Gonfa Edossa said there is a lack of progress in the training of phase two Unified forces and the deployment of the remaining unified combatants, urging parties to take action.
“The formation of the NUF is a vital prerequisite for the upcoming elections; so far only about 6% of the planned 83,000-strong NUF has actually been deployed. Time is running out. Action must be taken.”
Information minister Michael Makuei revealed two weeks ago that there will be a party dialogue to address concerns raised by those who are not ready for the election.
He assured that any decision regarding participation in the election will be determined through this dialogue, which will take place ‘soon.’
As the parties’ plan for dialogue to determine the fate of the elections, the arguments preceding this event have laid bare how the political parties are carefully treading on this subject.
The proponents and opponents of the election are leaving room for guesswork on their next moves—leading to speculation that they could consequently embrace extensions.