The SPLM under Kiir has been campaigning for conduct at the end of the transitional period in February next year, but crucial provisions of the transitional period meant to be implemented before elections are yet to be implemented.
The international community has made it clear that South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, is not currently ready for elections, something that has angered the ruling party which has previously maintained that it will go for elections even without the needed census.
But speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon from the capital Juba, a senior member of the ruling party who is a close ally of President Kiir said the South Sudanese head of state has hinted on several meetings of the ruling party for postponement of the vote beyond 2023.
“Now we have concluded that elections in 2023 will take the country back to war and the president has told party members during several occasions that elections won’t be possible that elections won’t be conducted next year,” the official said.
The official who spoke with certainty said the party sees the international opposition to conduct of elections as the main reasons as to why the vote shouldn’t go in 2023 as planned because and internationally opposed vote will create further conflict in the country.
“The international community does not want election to be conducted in 2023. The United Nations, the Troika, and other international friends, and enemies alike, have stated that there should be no elections needed because of the provisions of the agreement which have not been implemented,” he said.
“So, there is no way that we can go for an election where the elected government will not be internationally, and of course regionally, not be trusted and recognized because we have not implemented the road map for the agreement,” he added.