![South Sudan First Vice President and SPLM-IO chairman Dr. Riek Machar Teny speaking during the 6th SPLM/SPLA (IO) National Conference in Juba last week [Photo by Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/130450649_1339232143083147_1474291214779927284_n.jpg?ssl=1)
Yesterday, Presidential Press Secretary Ateny Wek Ateny said general elections will take place in June 2023. The presidency spokesman did not however clarify if other parties to the agreement such as SPLM-IO and the South Sudan Opposition Alliance were consulted on the matter.
In response, Dut Majokdit, a senior SPLM-IO member and a close ally to Dr. Riek, said the main armed opposition group condemns the decision and that the office of the president does not have the power to unilaterally decide when elections are held.
“In response to the statement of the Press Secretary in the Office of the President in regards to general elections today, it’s the Parties to decide when to hold elections as stipulated in the Agreement. It’s not the business of the Press Secretary Ateny Wek Ateny in the office of the President to declare election for June 2023 without the reunification of the army,” he wrote in a statement on Facebook.
The senior opposition official further reiterated the SPLM-IO’s position rejecting conduct of elections without the completion of the pre-transitional and transitional arrangements that opens door for general elections.
“The SPLM-IO leadership is ready for general elections if all the provisions in the peace agreement are implemented in letter and spirit particularly the security arrangements,” Majokdit stated.
“The SPLM-IO can’t go to elections without a unified army in place. It is time to build and construct a complete peace to the people of South Sudan and not to talk of premature elections,” he concluded.
