By No. 1 Citizen
United Nations Secretary-General has called on parties in South Sudan to agree on procedures and timeline for conducting peaceful, free, fair, and credible elections.
In a report presented to UN Security Council, António Guterres acknowledged that the Transitional Government of National Unity has continued to provide seed funding to the National Elections Commission.
However, he noted that the necessary budgetary needs to organize the proposed elections have not yet been met.
“I also note that the National Elections Commission has taken steps to assess the ground-level infrastructure and facilities and has consulted with key stakeholders on the electoral process, in addition to appointing state high elections committees,” read the report.
The UN chief welcomed the ongoing political dialogue, including the discussions between the parties in the High-Level Standing Committee forum in Juba and the Tumaini initiative in Nairobi, which aims to include non-signatory groups in the peace process.
Guterres stated that the Tumaini initiative provides a foundation for the inclusion of these groups and can complement the implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.
However, Guterres expressed concerns over the conflict in neighboring Sudan and its impact on South Sudan, particularly the influx of over 700,000 returnees, refugees, and asylum-seekers, which is straining local communities.
He also highlighted the threat of intercommunal violence, which could create an unfavorable environment for political campaigning ahead of the elections.
“I encourage the Transitional Government to continue with efforts to address intercommunal grievances,” stressed Guterres.
The 2018 peace agreement had initially envisioned the transitional government ending in 2023, but due to unmet key provisions, notably security arrangements, the timeline was extended to February 2025.
Despite this, the National Elections Commission has announced December 22, 2024, as the election date, a move that has been met with both hope and skepticism.
Observers have stated that the situation in South Sudan remains precarious, with many obstacles to overcome before the country can hold its first elections.