Gov’t position on population census, repatriation of refugees ‘disappointing’ – Activist

JUBA, AUGUST 17, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – A South Sudan civil society activist said on Thursday that the government’s position regarding the conduct of a national population census and the repatriation of refugees before elections is disappointing.

This comes after Information Minister and Government Spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth said during a press conference in Juba on Tuesday that the government does not need to conduct a census or repatriate IDPs and refugees before elections.

Makuei claimed that the conduct of elections is not permanently linked to the pre-election tasks provided for in the revitalized peace agreement, arguing that the vote could stand as an independent exercise, citing the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 as an example.

“There are those who believe that we are not going for elections unless all the provisions of the agreement are implemented; that is rubbish; even the provisions of the CPA up to now are not all implemented,” Makuei said.

The senior government official, who is also a top member of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IG), also said that the repatriation of IDPs and refugees is a voluntary process and cannot be forced if they are not willing.

“There are people who say unless the displaced people and refugees are repatriated.  Repatriation is a voluntary work ….. it is not compulsory. The government cannot go and tell the refugees in all the refugee camps ‘come here, go home’. That is not the case it is the refugee who would say I want to be repatriated, then we would repatriate him,” Makuei said.

“Even the displaced here in these camps, here in Juba, we cannot force them to go home if they don’t want [to], so that condition is not in place,” he added.

In reaction, activist Bol Deng Bol, the Executive Director of INTREPID South Sudan, criticized the government’s position on the population census and the repatriation of refugees, calling it “disappointing.”

Bol, who is also the chairperson of the Jonglei Civil Society Network (JCSN), said that the revitalized peace deal mandates the government to conduct a national population census before ending the transitional period.

“The Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) mandates the RTGoNU (the National Unity Government), under section 1.2.14 to conduct a national population census before ending the transitional period,” he said.

“This is very important, especially for the conduct of general elections next year, in 2024. Equally, the government is mandated to expedite voluntary and dignified repatriation, rehabilitation, resettlement, and reintegration of IDPs and returnees. Among others, these are primary conditions for holding a fair, credible, and free election,” he added.

Bol also criticized the government’s spokesperson for being “a pessimist” with regards to the implementation of the peace agreement.

“The Spokesperson of the unity government has proven time and again to be the best pessimist with regards to the implementation of the peace agreement. If there were awards for pessimists in the country, he would be scooping his sixth award this year. It is this same negative spirit that is perpetuating a lack of political will and hence endless transitions,” he said.

“Even as I appreciate the recent positive efforts on the security arrangements, I would like to appeal to the unity government to put more focus on the conditions necessary for a free, fair, and credible election other than ruminating on whether or not there will be elections in 2024,” he added.