CEPO welcomes planned meeting on elections conduct

JUBA – South Sudan’s civil society watchdog, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), has expressed approval of the decision made by the parties to the revitalized peace agreement to convene meetings regarding the conduct of elections.

Addressing journalists after a weekly cabinet meeting in Juba yesterday, Information Minister and Government Spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth stated that while the government is inclined towards holding elections in December, individual parties will determine their participation, beginning with an upcoming SPLM party meeting.

In a statement provided to Sudans Post today, CEPO welcomed the decision to hold a party meeting to discuss the conduct of elections scheduled for December this year, emphasizing the importance of such meetings taking place within the month of March.

“Community Empowerment for Progress Organization welcomed the decision to convene political parties among the signatories to the R-ARCSS. But CEPO strongly urged for the meeting to take place immediately within the month of March, 2024, prior to the briefing of the UNMISS head to the United Nations Security Council,” the CEPO’s statement reads in part.

“It is imperative that the political parties’ meeting be inclusive, with meaningful participation from stakeholders to the R-ARCSS, as well as other political parties and stakeholders not signatories to the R-ARCSS in Juba,” the statement added.

CEPO’s Executive Director, Edmund Yakani, viewed the government’s decision as a positive response to the advocacy group’s call for consensus but cautioned that such a meeting would lack meaning unless it is inclusive.

“The decision of the council of Ministries to convene a political parties meeting to determine the fate of the elections is a positive response to our recommendation in our latest pre-elections domestic observations report,” Yakani said.

“But it holds no significance if the political parties’ meeting lacks inclusivity of stakeholders. The decision to hold the December 2024 elections is not solely the responsibility of the political parties but a national obligation that necessitates inclusive participation of stakeholders and their leaders in the decision-making process,” he added.

The prominent civil society leader referred to previous calls for an inclusive political parties’ dialogue to make concrete and genuine political decisions regarding the forthcoming elections, citing growing political tensions and contradictions among parties, which pose a serious threat of the country descending into violence.

The statement outlined several recommendations, including the conduct of inclusive political parties meetings and ensuring stakeholders have the opportunity to be heard.

The statement also emphasized that such meetings “should not be conducted under a selective approach where one of the signatories to the R-ARCSS is not fully permitted to participate.