JUBA – The Russian government has offered to assist South Sudan in organising the country’s long-awaited general elections scheduled for December this year, according to a statement issued by the Russian Embassy in Juba.
The announcement followed a meeting between the Russian Ambassador to South Sudan, Aleksandr Kosmodemiyanskiy, and the Chairperson of South Sudan’s National Elections Commission, Professor Abednego Akok Kacuol.
In the statement released Wednesday, the embassy said the two officials discussed the forthcoming polls and potential areas of cooperation.
“During a constructive and trust-based discussion, the parties addressed the upcoming General Elections in the Republic scheduled for December this year,” the statement said.
It added that Russia had pledged support to South Sudan in preparing for the electoral process.
“Russia extended a helping hand to the brotherly people of South Sudan in organising this crucial electoral process for the country,” the embassy stated.
As part of the initial support package, the two sides agreed that three members of the National Elections Commission would travel to Russia for training.
“At the initial stage, it was agreed to send three Commission staff members to Russia for training,” the statement noted.
South Sudan is expected to hold its first post-independence general elections in December, a process widely viewed as a key milestone in the implementation of the 2018 revitalised peace agreement.
The planned elections have faced repeated delays due to unresolved issues, including security arrangements, constitutional reforms, voter registration, and funding constraints.
Russia’s latest pledge of support comes as South Sudan continues to seek technical and financial assistance from international partners to prepare institutions responsible for conducting credible and peaceful elections.
No further details were immediately provided on the scope of Russia’s assistance or when the training program for the election officials would begin.
Russian Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva told a United Nations Security Council meeting that South Sudan remains committed to the Revitalised Peace Agreement and that the country should be supported, not criticised.
Her remarks came amid mounting regional and Western pressure on the Kiir administration to release First Vice President Riek Machar and conduct inclusive political dialogue before the proposed elections.
