Sheikh Barac Urges Kiir and Machar to Dialogue on Elections

JUBA – The Secretary-General of South Sudan’s Islamic Council, Sheikh Abdallah Barac, has appealed to President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his first deputy, Riek Machar, to embrace dialogue to resolve the impasse surrounding the conduct of elections this year.

South Sudan is scheduled to hold its first elections in December this year. However, it remains unclear whether this plan will proceed smoothly, given the disagreement between Kiir and Machar regarding its conduct.

While Kiir advocates for elections to proceed as planned, his first deputy, Machar, who also heads the main opposition SPLM-IO, argues that the country is not prepared for them. Machar insists that elections should wait until the revitalized peace agreement is fully implemented.

In an interview with Sudans Post this morning, Sheikh Barac stated that the Islamic Council supports the conduct of elections in accordance with the revitalized peace deal. He called on Kiir and Machar to reconcile their differences to ensure free and fair elections.

“We, as men of God, do not involve ourselves in politics, but we advise and encourage our leaders in South Sudan to maintain peace,” Sheikh Barac remarked.

According to the prominent Muslim cleric, the parties to the revitalized peace agreement must adhere to the 2018 peace deal, which explicitly states that elections must be held at the end of the transitional period through consensus.

“Therefore, in commitment to peace, we believe it is preferable for the peace deal to be implemented as it stands – and for elections to be held at the end of the [transitional] period,” he emphasized.

“Before elections, we appeal to our leaders to engage in dialogue – there must be dialogue, and parties must reach a consensus on it,” he stressed.

“It is akin to someone building a house and being left with only a small portion to complete it. This small matter requires wisdom so that elections do not become another catalyst for conflict in the country,” he observed.

Sheikh Barac highlighted that significant progress has been made regarding the ceasefire requirement among the former belligerents. He underscored that the Muslim community desires the government, especially the president and his first deputy, to engage in dialogue on elections.

“I speak on behalf of all Muslims when I say that we will support our government and encourage it, led by H.E. President Salva Kiir, his First Vice President, and four Vice Presidents, to convene at the presidential level, draft a roadmap, and reach a comprehensive agreement on the elections,” he declared.

The cleric further urged the president to demonstrate wisdom and engage in dialogue with all parties to the agreement to ensure that elections are not conducted while some remain dissatisfied.

“The price of peace is far superior to the cost of war, and our government, despite having five vice presidents, has not failed because we have succeeded in bringing peace. Any price paid to achieve peace is invaluable,” he concluded.