![South Sudan opposition leader Lam Akol Ajawin speaks to reporters following a meeting with President Salva Kiir Mayardit at the State House J1 on August 9, 2023. [Photo courtesy]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/363838476_1345580046070051_1688356763055082265_n.jpg?resize=1024%2C499&quality=89&ssl=1)
Akol who returned to the country late last month after three years in Sudan said in statements following his meeting with Kiir that he discussed with the president the preparations for elections stressing that the transitional period must end with elections.
“We thank the President for the reception and hospitality accorded to us, since I came to Juba,” Akol said. “We discussed with him the next stage, which is preparations for the general elections, because we know that the peace agreement must end with elections.”
Akol, who leads the National Democratic Movement (NDM), called for speedy implementation of the remaining tasks provided for in the 2018 revitalized peace agreement so that a conducive environment is created for elections to be held in a transparent manner.
“It is our belief that it is possible to hold the elections if we speed up the implementation of the requirements that create the atmosphere for elections, because our people are anxious to have elections and not extensions,” he said.
“What needs to be done now is creating a conducive atmosphere where all the political parties are free to propagate their programs by meeting the people,” he added.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, is preparing for its first elections since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. President Kiir has been nominated by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IG) and has already launched his campaign.
He promised during a rally on July 4 in Western Bahr el Ghazal State capital Wau that he will end the country’s persistent transitional government statuses with democratic elections in December 2024, two months before end of the transitional period.
First Vice President Riek Machar, Kiir’s main rival, has not yet been nominated by his party, buy his aides and allies say the nomination process can be conducted in a blink of an eye should prerequisites for elections be in place.
