![South Sudan's map featuring Jonglei state in red. [Photo via Wikipedia]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Jonglei_in_South_Sudan.svg.png?resize=1024%2C743&quality=80&ssl=1)
As per the September 2022 South Sudan roadmap and the revitalized peace agreement, the country is set to hold its inaugural general elections in December 2024.
However, citizens across the country hold differing opinions regarding the likelihood of conducting free and fair elections at the stipulated time.
Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon in Jonglei State’s Bor, some citizens express confidence in the likelihood of elections by year-end, while others harbor doubts.
Gabriel Chuti Nhial, reflecting on the current nationwide insecurity, questions the feasibility of holding elections in December.
“I don’t think elections will take place. These politicians start grievances when it is almost time for elections. I don’t think [elections] will happen in December this year,” he said.
Anyieth, not her real name, asserts that the South Sudanese government isn’t prepared to implement the peace agreement’s resolutions.
“The government is not ready for elections, if they are ready for elections then why are they not implementing the R-ARCSS and the road map which is supposed the lead the country to the elections,” said Anyieth.
She intends to observe the peace agreement’s signatories to gauge their commitment to the roadmap.
While some citizens cast doubts on the forthcoming elections, Government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth, during a previous mini-endorsement rally in Jonglei State, assured the populace of the country’s readiness for elections by year-end.
He pledged to address any remaining gaps within the roadmap’s timeline.
Makuei dismissed objections, citing reasons such as the incomplete constitution, security arrangement concerns, and the absence of a population census as attempts by naysayers to derail the elections slated for 2024.
He affirmed the government’s commitment to prevent any impediments necessitating an extension of the election timeline.
“There are some people saying we don’t want elections because the constitution is not yet done, there are people saying that we don’t want elections because the security arrangement is not well done and because the population census has not been made but those are words of those that doesn’t want elections to take place,” said Makuei last week.
However, SPLM-IO spokesman Puok Both Baluang expressed skepticism, asserting that South Sudan lacks readiness for a fair and credible election.
Baluang emphasized the necessity of fulfilling the agreement’s terms and fully implementing security arrangements before conducting elections.
Bol Deng Bol, a civil society activist and human rights defender, echoed similar doubts regarding the proposed election due to the sluggish implementation of peace agreement resolutions.
“Looking now at the conditions that are required for the free, fair and credible elections we have serious concerns,” Bol told Sudans Post today.
“There are grave concerns with the establishment of the commissions that are establish recently and the environment that is conducive for democratic elections,” he added.
