Opposition alliance warns against possible delay of December elections

JUBA — The National Alliance of Political Parties has warned against postponing South Sudan’s December 22 general elections, saying ongoing political dialogue should not be used to extend the transitional period or delay the return to elected government.

Speaking to the media on Friday, the Alliance’s chairperson and presidential candidate, Kornelio Kon Ngu, said they have observed ‘indicators’ of political attempts to use the dialogue to completely postpone the elections or to decide to hold presidential polls while delaying legislative, state, and local elections.

The Alliance, a coalition of political parties, did not take part in the inter-party dialogue. Kon said they are setting out their position ahead of the expected conclusion of the discussions, which could take place after President Salva Kiir Mayardit returns from his foreign trip.

Kon described the dialogue as a discussion between friends and allies of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement led by President Salva Kiir. He noted that these allies could possibly agree on resolutions that could lead to the postponement of the elections.

He warned that any agreement to delay the polls or extend the transitional arrangements must not be reached without a clear legal basis, insisting that recent amendments to the electoral and transitional frameworks were intended to facilitate elections and end the transition.

“The Alliance affirms that dialogue is a means for consensus and not a mandate to paralyze the will of the people or extend the transitional period without a clear legal basis,” Kon said.

The statement comes in the wake of political discussions over the country’s electoral roadmap following President Kiir’s September 22 dissolution of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity and the appointment of a caretaker administration.

The dissolution removed the country’s five vice presidents and ministers from their positions. It also affected the national and state legislative assemblies, as well as governments and assemblies in the country’s administrative areas. Meanwhile, Kiir retained full powers as president until a new government is elected.

The transitional arrangements had been extended several times since the 2018 peace agreement, which established a power-sharing government and set out a roadmap toward elections. The December 22 vote is intended to be South Sudan’s first general election since independence in 2011.

Questions, however, remain over the practical preparations for the vote, including voter registration, election financing, security, logistics, and the conditions needed for political parties to campaign freely.

Despite these concerns, the ruling party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, remains the only visible party currently engaged in the electoral process, with candidates already picking up forms for the party primaries

Kon said that in a situation where the elections are postponed, the caretaker government should be dismissed, followed by the restoration of the institutional and power-sharing arrangements that existed before the transitional government was dissolved.

He said this should be followed by the formation of an inclusive national consensus government involving political forces and other stakeholders, with a maximum two-year mandate and a binding timetable for elections.

If only presidential elections are held in December, the Alliance said the government should establish a clear timetable for legislative, state, and local elections, and maintain political parties’ rights under the peace agreement until the relevant institutions are elected.

This publication could not establish that either scenario had been formally agreed upon, as the outcome of the inter-party dialogue is yet to be made public.

The Inter-Party Dialogue on Election-Related Matters was launched in Juba on September 24, bringing together political parties, caretaker government officials, diplomats, religious leaders, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders to discuss electoral issues.

At the launch, President Kiir described the dialogue as part of the roadmap toward peaceful elections and the conclusion of the transitional period. He urged participants to focus on reaching a consensus on the electoral process.

The dialogue followed amendments to the National Elections Act that removed requirements for completing a permanent constitution and conducting a national census before elections could be held.

The African Union’s C5 Plus summit on September 29 acknowledged preparations for the December elections but urged South Sudanese stakeholders to address outstanding political, technical, operational, financial, legal, and security requirements.

Kon called on the African Union, the United Nations Security Council, peace agreement guarantors, and other international partners to intensify consultations with political actors to ensure that the dialogue protects rather than disrupts the electoral process.

Kon said the Alliance was ready to contest the elections and accept the results, provided the polls were free, fair, transparent, and conducted in accordance with the law.

“Elections are a right of the people and not a privilege granted by the authorities,” he said.