By Lodu William Odiya
The Chairperson of the National Election Commission (NEC), Professor Abednego Akok Kacuol, has called on South Sudanese leaders to prioritize the election process to give power to the people.
Akok expressed that the NEC will remain committed to the election process while leaders and the citizens must support the process.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, at the NEC premises, Akok said the commission remains committed to conducting the election as agreed upon by the parties.
He emphasized that for the power to be with people, there is need for election.
“Sovereignty is with the voters; it is with the South Sudanese. Your right is to register your name; that will promote your political right,” Akok said.
He urged the citizens to utilize their chances that start with civic education up to the election.
“The time has come for you to participate in the election, and to do this we must begin with civic education,” he said.
“Hence, the citizens should be ready. The second stage will be voter registration,” Chairperson Akok added.
The NEC chairperson revealed that the institution has made progress in engaging the parties as well as necessary preparation to ensure a transparent election comes in 2026.
On his part, the South African Ambassador to South Sudan, Mahlodi Sam Muofhe, stated that there is a need for an election in South Sudan.
He expressed that the war has affected South Sudan, and hence there is a need to prioritize stability and elections.
“Those things can only be unlocked when there is a democratically elected government in South Sudan. When South Sudanese, all of them, irrespective of who is a Nuer, who is a Dinka, or who is any other thing in South Sudan,” Muofhe added.
“Comprehends that we are all South Sudanese, who must live for South Sudan, which must live and ensure that South Sudan plays its role and takes its place in the community of African countries as one of the biggest players in terms of economic development in South Sudan,” he added.
He said his government had continued to support South Sudan all along during the liberation struggles until the independence.
“We held hands with South Sudanese, or the leadership of South Sudan, post the election, post your independence in 2011, and to date, we are still together,” he said.
South Sudan had postponed its elections several times since gaining independence in 2011. The country’s first elections were initially scheduled for 2015 but have been delayed to 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024, and most recently to 2026.