Kiir’s party engaged in ‘discussions’ to postpone elections for 4 more months

JUBA, JULY 10, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) faction led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit is reportedly engaged in discussions aimed at proposing yet another extension of the transitional period.

A senior SPLM official, who spoke to Sudans Post on condition of anonymity on Monday afternoon, said that the party is considering extending the transitional period from December 2024 to April 2025 to give more time for parties to tailor remaining tasks.

“There are discussions within [the SPLM] that the transitional period will be extended for three or four additional months. They will either be conducted in March, or April 2025,” the official said.

“This is because we expect the tasks set forth in the revitalized peace agreement to be completed around February or March and elections take place immediately,” he added.

The revitalized peace agreement, which was signed in September 2018, provides for elections after a 36-month transitional period starting in May 2019.

However, the polls have been postponed several times, most recently in August 2022 when the parties pushed them to December 2024.

The SPLM official said that the party is still in discussions within and will then approach other parties to the peace agreement, including the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), about the proposed postponement.

“It is on this basis that there are discussions first within the SPLM [IG] before moving to include SPLM-IO and other parties who have continued to cooperate with us in good faith. But there is no question about the election. We are going for an election no matter what,” the official said.

The SPLM official said that the postponement is necessary to ensure that the elections are held in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

“We want to make sure that the elections are credible and that the people of South Sudan can choose their leaders freely,” the official said.

“We believe that an additional four months will give us the time we need to complete the tasks set forth in the peace agreement and ensure that the elections are held in a fair and transparent manner,” he added.