![South Sudan First Vice President and SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny speaking to Reuters in Rome, Italy in April 20129 [Photo by Reuters]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/download__1_-removebg-preview-1-1.png?resize=1024%2C599&ssl=1)
On Monday, the office of the president said in a statement that Machar who is also the leader of the main armed opposition SPLM-IO “urged the new officials (the new interior minister and her deputy) to prepare a conducive environment for the conduct of elections next year.”
But in a statement on Wednesday morning, Machar’s Acting Press Secretary Puok Both Baluang denied that his bossed made such utterances saying that the claims by President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s press unity are untrue.
“We wish to state categorically that these claims are unfounded and have no basis in reality,” he said in a statement seen by Sudans Post.
“The First Vice President did not make any such statement during the ceremony. It is unfortunate that the press unit of the Office of the President chose to disseminate false information to the public and thereby misrepresent the position of the First Vice President,” he added.
While saying that “such actions are not only unprofessional but also unethical,” Baluang urged the “the press unit of the Office of the President to adhere to the highest standards of journalistic ethics and professionalism in the course of their duties.”
South Sudan is expected to go for elections in December 2024. If conducted, it will be the world’s youngest country’s first democratic elections since obtaining its independence from neighboring Sudan in July 2011.
While Kiir has maintained that elections will be held, Machar who is his archrival has said that the country is not ready for elections. He argues that critical tasks provided for in the revitalized peace agreement have not yet been implemented.
