EXCLUSIVE | Kiir, Machar reportedly delaying elections beyond 2023

JUBA – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar Teny are reportedly delaying conduct of elections beyond 2023 barely a month after the presidency said in a statement that elections – scheduled for 2022 by the revitalized peace agreement – will take place in 2023.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, a senior presidency official said Kiir and Machar are working hand-in-hand to make sure that South Sudan is made a stable country before it heads for elections which he said is possible given what he calls “a promising leadership cooperation” between the two men.

“H.E the President of the Republic and H.E the First Vice President are working to make sure that the country is stable when elections are conducted. Now, the government is working with partners in the international community to make sure that pending issues of the revitalized peace agreement are addressed so that the country has a suitable environment for elections,” the official who requested to be named said in Juba.

The official however said that progress will not be possible before end of 2023 saying a lot of pressing issues such as communal violence, lack of financial resources for funding of the agreement and talks with holdout opposition groups are fighting back against time.

“This does not however mean that the elections will be conducted in 2022 or in 2023 as said by the presidency last time. What matter the most currently is not when elections are conducted, but it is the question of whether such elections will be conducted in a conducive environment that meets international standards,” the official said.

He further added that “to achieve a permanent peace and a conducive environment for elections, you need to have all the holdout opposition groups inside the country participating in the government and in the peace process. It will be meaningless to conduct elections when there is still fighting in some parts of the country because we need all the citizens to participate in the democratic process.”

Another official who is close to First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar said he is not aware of any discussion between Kiir and Machar on when elections will be conducted, but is in fact aware of seriousness of the two leaders to make sure that South Sudan goes to election with stability at hand.

“What I understand and aware of is that President Salva and First Vice President Dr. Machar are working very hard to make sure that peace is fully in the country when elections are conducted. But I am not aware if any discussion is ongoing between the First Vice President and the President on when the elections are conducted,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

“What I know and everyone should know is that the revitalized peace agreement has given a timeframe for when elections are conducted,” the official further added.