Matia Samuel
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The United Nations pledged unwavering support for South Sudan’s electoral process.
The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Political Affairs in South Sudan, Guang Cong, said the UN will play its role effectively in supporting the transition.
“Let me reiterate the UN’s unwavering commitment to support South Sudan’s electoral process, as well as in our firm responsibilities to the Trilateral Taskforce on overall assistance to the peace process,” he said during the closing session of awareness creation for the commissioners and staff of National Elections Commission, last week.
“The UN continues to assist the Commission in various areas including a scoping exercise across the country on the state of ground readiness. The Commission is utilizing the exercise to also discuss the reconstitution of State High Election Committees. The support has so far covered eight states, with Unity and Western Equatoria outstanding due to the recent fuel crisis affecting UN operations,” he added.
According to him, “the UN is also assisting the Commission on orientation and capacity training on the standards and principles of the electoral process, and supporting the development of electoral regulations, standard operating procedures, and a code of conduct for staff.”
He noted that there are more important issues remaining particularly on clarity around key priorities on the elections.
Guang added that there is a need to urgently understand the type of election the South Sudanese are to go for in December this year and to decide the legal framework for the election.
“There is a need to urgently understand the type of elections that are to take place, and second, whether they would be conducted under the constitutional framework outlined in the R-ARCSS or another legal arrangement,” he added.
He commended the ongoing dialogue among parties, and “encourage the parties to swiftly reach consensus on all the critical issues in the peace agreement.”
He revealed that the UN Mission’s current mandate adopted on April 29, 2024, “directs that technical assistance and advice to the South Sudan electoral process be focused on achieving the four core areas of credible and peaceful conduct of the elections.”
It also covers “broad and inclusive voter education programmes, training and promotion of dialogue among stakeholders and technical and logistical support for creating the conditions conducive for free, fair, and peaceful elections.”
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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