South Sudan civil society leader, Norwegian envoy discuss 2024 elections  

JUBA – The Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani on Monday met the Norwegian Special Envoy to South Sudan, Jon Anton Johnson to discuss the importance of conducting peaceful and democratic elections in the country.

The meeting, held at CEPO’s office in Juba, also deliberated on the creation of a conducive environment for holding the elections earmarked for December 2024.

Yakani informed Johnson that the country’s political leaders are required to hold a meeting of the presidency on holding inclusive political parties dialogue for making key decisions for the approach of the extended transitional period of 24 months.

“Citizens have no appetite for extension of the transitional period if the leadership of the country fails to hold elections. The only practical option at hand is formation of a technocratic government through inclusive political processes,” he explained.

The meeting also discussed funding of the elections and constitutional making, unification of forces for the creation of one defense and security sector as well as inclusive conduct of elections where unrestricted open political and civic space.

South Sudan, according to the peace roadmap, is expected to hold a general election in December 2024.

However, the electoral commission is still faced by numerous challenges, such as time factor, lack of firm political will toward the elections in December 2024 and lack of adequate resources to run elections.