South Sudan president says country can’t hold credible elections before refugees’ return

JUBA – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has appealed to displaced person to return to their homes saying the world’s youngest country cannot hold credible elections without the return home by displaced person.

The South Sudanese head of state who made the remarks during the celebration of 100 years of Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Catholic Church in Loa, urged residents of Eastern Equatoria state to return home.

“I would like to appeal to the residents of this region who are still in refuge to come back home. This appeal also goes to others across the country,” President Kiir said.

“I will repeat, come home and join hands with us to develop our country. We are aware of the challenges that face returnees but I still urge you to come home. Home is better than foreign land,” he added.

Kiir said with the formation of the unity government, the executive will work to make sure that it put in place conditions that would ease the return of the displaced because the country cannot hold credible elections without them in the country.

“With the three arms of government now established, we shall work together to propose all the programs that will support the return and resettlement of displaced persons. The executive branch of the government will work with the newly sworn-in Reconstituted Transitional Legislative Assembly to support programs for your return,” Kiir said.

“This is important because your return has a direct link to the full implementation of the peace agreement. We cannot for example hold a credible election when the majority of our people are in displacement camps,” he stressed.

The South Sudanese president further commended the Catholic Church for its work, urged it to continue being the voice of reason, and urged the institution to walk with the people in the journey of peace.

“As an institution, the Catholic Church has proven its value to our people. To the Church leadership, please continue to be the voice of reason in our country. Walk with us in this journey of peace-building. Support us in our efforts to prevent spoilers from reverting the gains we have made in the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement which we signed in September 2018,” Kiir said.

“The Revitalized Peace Agreement is the path to stability and we shall implement it in its entirety. There are those who doubt our will to implement this agreement, but I can assure you that we will prove them wrong,” he added.