NDM opens head office in Juba, calls for full peace implementation before elections

JUBA, JUNE 24, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s opposition National Democratic Movement (NDM) has inaugurated its head office in Juba and called for full implementation of the revitalized peace agreement for free and fair elections to take place.

The NDM is a founding member of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), an opposition consortium that signed the revitalized peace agreement – along with other groups such as the SPLM-IO and OPP – with the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

The group has been operating without an office since the formation of the coalition government in Juba in 2020 and today’s inauguration of the head office marks a significant step in the implementation process of the revitalized peace agreement which calls for a free civic space for opposition groups.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the office, Mahmoud Akot, the NDM spokesman, said the group has achieved some aspirations for the people of South Sudan.

“Despite the political challenges facing us as a signatory party to the  Peace Agreement, we have been able to achieve some of the aspirations of the masses of our people, and to meet the requirements of the next stage, by finding a common ground that unite all south Sudanese, and this is based on From our sincere vision towards this dear country, to achieve the desired democratic transformation,” he said.

The senior opposition official called for an atmosphere in which elections will be free and fair.

“Distinguished guests, it is known that elections is the only way to create a government elected by the people, and in order for the elections to be free and fair, freedoms and a political atmosphere must be provided that lead the country to free and transparent elections,” he said.

Akot further called for full implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and called for the holdout opposition groups to join the peace process.

“In conclusion, I call for the need to implementation of the remaining provisions of the agreement, by re-forming the governmental bodies that are still awaiting formation, and I also appeal to the non-signatory parties to the agreement to join the peace and contribute to the development of the country,” he said.