SPLM-IO to boycott elections unless Machar is released from detention – official

JUBA – A senior member of South Sudan’s main armed opposition, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) in Western Equatoria State, has stated that their party will not participate in any elections unless First Vice President Riek Machar, who is also the group’s leader, is released from detention and authorized to conduct election activities.

Speaking on Thursday during a constitutional-making process support initiative conducted by the Support Peace Initiative Development Organization (SPIDO) in Yambio, Western Equatoria cabinet minister John Barayona, a senior member of the SPLM-IO, emphasized that they are not obstructing elections but will not take part unless Machar is released and gives the group the go-ahead to start activities.

“We are not obstructing the country from holding elections,” he said. “But we cannot engage in the electoral process until our chairperson is released and then gives us the go-ahead,” the senior opposition official told the audience.

Barayona also reiterated the SPLM-IO’s belief that the revitalized peace agreement the group signed with the ruling SPLM-IG faction under President Salva Kiir Mayardit has not been fully implemented, citing the unmet start and completion of the permanent constitutional-making process and the population census, which he said are crucial for the conduct of elections.

“How can you go for elections without conducting a census and addressing other essential aspects of the constitutional-making process? We will continue to abstain from participating until we receive approval from the Chairperson. Once approved, we will fully engage in the electoral process,” he affirmed.

South Sudan is planning for an unlikely election at the end of the transitional period slated for December of this year. However, there is disagreement between the key parties, namely SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO.

SPLM-IG wants elections to take place, but SPLM-IO wants at least a two-year extension of the transitional period to allow for the implementation of pending tasks, which they said are crucial for the conduct of elections.

There is an ongoing peace initiative mediated by the government of neighboring Kenya between the government and non-signatory opposition groups to the revitalized peace agreement.

The mediation aims to bring those groups into the peace process, and it is highly likely that an extension of the transitional period will be requested if a peace agreement is reached between the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

Machat returned to Juba in February 2020 to form the transitional government with Kiir. He and his group have both claimed that they are being confined to their offices and residences in Juba and are not allowed to travel anywhere around the county.