By James Aniceto Batikayo
A lot of skepticism over shadows the launch of the third extension of the first elections in South Sudan 14 years after independence.
At this historic juncture, the country has noticed with great dismay the growing disenchantment and animosity between the two principles parties of the on-going peace agreement, i.e., the Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) 2018. This has in turn created wide spread ill-fillings about the fate of the extension of the election itself. It has been a great shock to some of us and of course to the masses of our South Sudanese people to see or hear about this situation in Western Equatoria and Western Bahr Gazelle besides other parts of the country. This must very quickly change so that the country reverts to serenity and normalcy.
United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has so far exercised the best it can of its mandate by closely following the conditions of the citizens on the ground as indicated in the speech of the UN Secretary-General Representative to South Sudan, this month February 2025. Most important also in this regard, is the organization of a Political Parties Forum by UNMISS on February 12th and 13th to critically examine the possible success of the extended elections in the country come December 2026. Key factors for debate on the forum were the prerequisites for the elections, as follows: 1. The Political Will for the scheduled elections. 2. Unification of previous SPLA combatants into one army. 3. National population census. 4. Constitution making process. 5. High Level Committee Report about implementation of the R-ARCSS by 10% remaining 90% to implement. 5. Draft bill to legalize borrowing to finance all the above-mentioned pre-requisites for the extended elections.
To tell the truth, most leaders in government have the Will to take the country ahead to free, fair and credible elections, but there are some who shyly or convolutedly express their Will to have elections take place. As for unification of former SPLA combatants into one national army, the need for funds is real. These funds are requested for collection, out-fitting, arming and transporting the combatants who have already had training and are awaiting graduation to containments. From there, they would be going for barricading and then graduation and other stages. The second badge would then follow and so forth. All these require a huge funding. Next is the population census process which is very vital for the demarcation of election geographical constituencies, the constitution-making process and spurring the return of refugees and displaced to their homes in the country.
Frankly, the constitution making however should be the shortest in terms of time and the least expensive in terms of funds. As early as the year 2012 the National Constitution Review Commission (NCRC) embarked on the constitution-making process manned by very senior lawyers, politicians and academicians. It is now 12 years since the work started but to no avail. It is worth-mentioning that the Permanent Constitution of the United States of America which is considered the best model of democracy in the world was written in only (4) four months. There was no civic education.
In old Sudan, the successive governments in Khartoum wrote several constitutions but Nan of those constitutional processes had lasted one year. They did not have civic education either. Leaders of the NCRC claim to have plans to visit the towns and villages to educate the people and take their opinions about the constitution but that is a futile exercise because the level of illiteracy is extremely high in the country. At the same time this civil education can be done through the Radio and TV and the views of the citizens could be sought instantly. Posters and billboards could add value to that.
The fifth paragraph of the Preamble of the R-ARCSS provides that (quote): “a federal system of government is a popular demand of the people of South Sudan …….” (Unquote) What is there for the NCRC to travel around to the villages to find out again? May be it is better to straight away ask the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) which will be formed or has already been formed of 12 South Sudanese and 3 foreigners to commence the federal constitution drafting without much ado because the time is pressuring. The draft will go through a constitutional conference, to parliament and to be finally signed by the President of the Republic hopefully by the end of this year 2025.
Henceforth it will be the parliament to review the articles of the constitution and amend any when necessary in the months and years to come. It is noticed with surprise that the NCRC has a bill in parliament to turn itself from an ad hoc commission to a permanent institution of the Civil service. If that is not an illusion or a daydream, what is this commission going to do in the future alongside a functional parliament?
To have credible and successful elections in our country as scheduled, the government needs to resort immediately to a money-making mechanism. It has to lay now the necessary legal framework for both Gold and Gum Arabic which are now available in immense quantities and have companies to quickly move in the markets at home and abroad to sell those goods, instead of allowing national and foreign criminals to smuggle them. Government companies could in joint ventures with owners of the gum airlift the gum to Port-Sudan which is its original exit point since before the Sudan war and sell it. The infrastructure of this trade has been in Sudan including the middlemen and gum exporters themselves. Those trading in gold know how and where to deal with it as well. More than U.S. 500 million can be obtained quickly from the stockpiles of Arab Gum warehouses in Renk of Upper Nile State plus Gold mines in several places in the 3 regions of South Sudan. Government officials seem not interested or enthusiastic even to talking about the Gold and Gum in the country and they are seeing the war of resources raging around us in our country’s neighbourhood. Why so? Only God knows. Public or government companies could go further than that to large investments in agriculture and industry. Some people are talking of a bill in parliament to Legalize government borrowings from abroad. Unfortunately, that is considered in economics deficit financing and it is dangerous to our fragile economy. The sale of crude oil in advance some years ago to be settled until the year 2027 is a lesson which we should all learn and do not forget to repeat. We have an abundance of resources and we sing that in our National Anthem glorifying God for his Grace in South Sudan and asking Him to keep us united. God Bless.