Africa-Press – South-Sudan. A civil rights organization praised President Salva Kiir’s speech during the commemoration of the Martyrs Day where he emphasised the commitment to the conduct of an election.
In the speech that was circulated on Saturday, President Kiir cleverly assured the doubters of the planned poll that the government was geared for the exercise and there is no reverse gear.
According to CEPO, Kiir’s assurance came at the right moment, as there have been question marks over the commitment to end the transition.
“CEPO welcomes the eighth confirmation of the president’s commitment for the conduct of national general elections by December 2024 without any failure during the national address on the martyr’s day dated July 30, 2023,” it noted on a statement.
It added, “This is a remarkable decision if the political transitional institutions, namely the political parties council, national elections commission, and national constitutional review commission, redeployment of the first graduated unified forces, and genuine implementation of the transitional security arrangements.”
The Executive Director of CEPO, Edmund Yakani, however, avers that the demonstration of this commitment ought to be seen through actions, especially in the implementation of the chapter on security.
He said the government must not play the waiting game any longer.
“Delaying the reconstitution of the political transitional institutions and redeployment of the first phase of the graduated unified forces, failing to roll out the training, graduation, and redeployment of the phase two of the unified forces beyond early December 2023 will cause possible failure or conduct of the national general elections below the minimum requirements for credible, free, fair, and non-violent elections,” he warned.
The National Treasury has allocated SSP50 billion for the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement. While the minister of peacebuilding, Stephen Kuol has welcomed the move, the deputy chairperson of the SPLM-IO Oyet Nathaniel, has appealed for more funds for the ministry.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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