Matik Kueth
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. A European Union delegation in South Sudan refuted claims that some of the foreign administrations are averse to South Sudan holding an election.
The delegation responded to a claim made by President Kiir that some Western powers intended to postpone elections claiming the possibility of violence. Kiir spoke during an endorsement rally held by SPLM supporters in the Greater Equatoria region to support him as the party’s candidate for the 2024 elections at the Dr John Garang Mausoleum in Juba.
According to the Associated Press, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation, Lothar Jaschke, stated that the EU would support the conduct of the elections, constitution-making, and transitional justice.
President Kiir during his endorsement rally pledged to see that the December elections go forward as scheduled and issued a warning that a postponement would lead to a bloodshed.
“There are people in Europe and America who have come up saying that the SPLM position to hold elections as scheduled must be blocked, arguing that if elections are held, South Sudan will return to war. I must assure you that nobody will fight. Instead, it is the postponement of elections that will cause war,” Kiir said.
He added, “What the Westerners and those who are outside our region are saying is that there will be war in South Sudan because of elections. Please don’t listen to such rumours. This is, of course, what they want to happen, so I am urging you all to be patient and calm,” he added.
Kiir further stated that he has advocated for a bipartisan conversation to discover a cooperative solution about the general elections scheduled for December 2024.
“While this process is ongoing, I urge the SPLM secretariat and the entire membership of the SPLM to prepare and get ready for elections in December 2024,” he emphasised.
Last week, the interim chairperson of an international commission, Maj. Gen. (rtd) Charles Gituai—charged with overseeing South Sudan’s 2015 peace agreement—said there was no evidence of sufficient preparation to conduct elections.
Gituai criticised the absence of state-level electoral bodies and the hold-up in the release of voter registration.
However, important procedures like the approval of a permanent constitution and a united police force are not in place before South Sudan’s election, which is scheduled for December.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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