Activist urges international pressure to help end transitional governments in South Sudan

JUBA, JULY 13, 2023 (SUDANS PIOST) – A South Sudanese activist is urging the international community to help end the successive transitional governments by pressuring the country’s leaders to conduct elections by the end of the current interim period.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said in a statement to Sudans Post on Wednesday that the transitional period in South Sudan must end with a free and fair elections in December 2024.

“The efforts for nurturing democratic governance in South Sudan should not be subject to political transitional process culture,” Yakani said. “Political elites that are fan of control of power without citizens shaping public governance normally like the political culture of controlling political power through transitional process.”

Yakani also warned that any attempt to postpone the elections would have negative consequences for peace and stability in South Sudan.

“Any efforts for undermine the conduct of the national general elections will be of great negative implication on peace and stability in South Sudan,” he said.

The transitional period in South Sudan is scheduled to end in February 2025 and elections are due in December 2024, just two months to the end of the transitional period.

But a senior SPLM official told Sudans Post on Monday that that there are discussions for the polls to be postponed three or four months again to give parties more time to tailor pending provisions of the revitalized peace agreement.

Yakani called on the international community to use its influence to ensure that the elections are held on time.

“The members of the regional and international community should really stand with the people of South Sudan through standing for the conduct of the national general elections expected to be held in December 2024 without any failure,” he said.

The transitional period has been plagued by delays and setbacks in the implementation process of the 2018 peace deal.

Yakani said that the elections are essential for South Sudan to move forward.

“The conduct of the national general elections is the only way to end the political transitional process in South Sudan,” he said. “It is also the only way to ensure that the people of South Sudan have a say in their future.”