Chollo King calls for reconciliation ahead of would-be 2024 elections

JUBA, OCTOBER 19, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The King of Chollo Community Kwongo Dak Padiet has called for reconciliation and healing as South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, is expected to hold its first elections in December 2024.

The call follows a meeting, today, between the King and President Salva Kiir Mayardit in which the two, according to a statement by Kiir’s office, discussed the implementation process of the revitalized peace agreement and the preparations for elections.

According to the presidency statement, the President Kiir and the Chollo King during the meeting “exchanged views on the current state of affairs in the nation,” which it said include how to sustain peace in the country.

“The President had a candid conversation with the Collo King on sustaining the prevailing peace and stability in the country,” the statement quoted presidential affairs minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin as saying.

For his part, the King said, according to the statement, that he discussed with Kiir “the need for consolidating healing, peace and reconciliation ahead of the 2024 general elections” and called on residents of Upper Nile state to denounce violence and live in peace.

In December last year, the Chollo King met President Kiir over the Upper Nile violence in which thousands of civilians were killed. He accused the SPLA-IO under First Vice President Riek Machar of standing behind the killing of Chollo people.

The call by the Chollo King comes as the parties to the revitalized peace agreement struggle with the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement. Chapter five of the 2018 peace deal provides for formation of a truth, reconciliation, and healing commission.

The deal signed by Kiir, and his first deputy Machar describes the commission “as a critical part of the peace building process in South Sudan, to spearhead efforts to address the legacy of conflicts, promote peace, national reconciliation and healing.”