![Logo of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO). [Photo courtesy]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Orange-and-Black-Modern-Sporty-Mens-Fitness-Quotes-Facebook-Cover.png?quality=80&ssl=1)
In a statement extended to Sudans Post, the CEPO said the poll conducted in the ten states and three administrative areas between 20 June and 10 July with participation of 1000 respondents per a state largely focused “on understanding the public opinion for the next steps on the fate of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.”
The public poll found that most citizens see conduct elections in December 2022, two months before end of the transitional period, may trigger another conflict and return the world’s youngest country to violence because there is no conducive environment for that purpose as no unified forces have been put in place, and the delay in the reconstitution of key institutions with direct role in the process such as the political parties council and the elections commission.
The respondents also cited the continued escalation in armed inter-communal violence in most parts of the country and most citizens think that there is “no clear legal framework for electoral process” and “no possible national funding for the electoral process” and further cited the shrinking civic space and lack of civic education for the citizens on the electoral process.
The respondents called on the political leaders to renew their pledge for “genuine implementation” of the revitalized peace agreement and build “trust and confidence by embracing principles of a coalition government in accordance with R-ARCSS framework for coalition government.”
They also urged the leaders to “dedicate attention for completing implementation of pending tasks of R-ARCSS with the time framework of 22nd February, 2023 plus 12 months only not beyond.” The CEPO said that such a proposal was supported by 60.1% of the respondents, opposed to 39.9% of the respondents.
The poll proposed that in case of postponement of elections, the parties should graduate and deploy the first batch of the necessary unified forces between August 2022 and February 2023 and enroll the second batch of the unified forces for training, provide unhindered civic space for political dialogue, deliver pending reforms, rollout transitional justice, provide a budget for the electoral process and have civic education carried out.
The poll proposed that by May 2023, the unification and redeployment of forces be “completed; political parties registered; electoral legal framework passed; Electoral national budget passed and availed; Political Parties rollout Electoral campaigns; National Constitution making process rolled out; Rome Peace Process concluded and Fate of IDPs and Refugees participation in national general elections determinate.”
It proposed that by August, tasks such as “electoral preparation process completed by the political parties council and the national election commission; government and donors dialogue for conduct of credible and peaceful elections held; international and national elections observers accredited; political parties in full electoral campaigns; public civic education on credible and peaceful election.”
It said that the by November, “the national constitution signed by president; electoral campaigns towards conclusions; electoral information for voters cleared; R-TGoNU (Legislative and Executive) dissolved; international and national media engaged on elections reporting without any form of restrictions.”
It proposed that the country go for elections by February 2024 and the elected government sworn in immediately.
The findings of the poll found that most citizens find the dissolution of the National Transitional Committee (NTC) necessary and that only the “Presidency, Council of Ministers and Transitional National Legislative Assembly in-charge of R-ARCSS pending tasks implementation.”
“Over 91.3% of the respondents called for no blanket extension of the translational period. Any extension should not extend more than 12 months from 22 February, 2023. In case of longer period extension transitional period should not be more 18 months from 22nd February, 2023. The extension should be focusing on conduct of credible and peaceful elections,” the CEPO says.
“Over 82% of the respondents called for political parties to signed peaceful elections declaration where no party will be allowed to fuels violence, abuse government resources for strengthening influencing for winning elections and electoral related freedoms and rights are not restricted by any party in any form,” it added.
The CEPO further said that “The public are demanding the presidency to fully take primary responsibility for making the process for ending transitional period through genuine implementation of R-ARCSS realistic. The display of deficit in trust and confidence among the principles of the parties signatory to the R-ARCSS was one of the majority public acknowledge impediment for genuine implementation of the R-ARCSS.
“The public survey confirmed that there are clashing opinion between extending the transitional period and non-extension of the transitional period. It is now up to the political leaders to listen to the public opinion or ignore the public opinion. The public called upon the political parties to renewal pledge for genuine transitioning of the country from the current situation to peace and political stability.”
