Troika demands transparent elections and accountable governance in South Sudan

JUBA – The United States, United Kingdom, and Norway, collectively known as the Troika, have issued a stern warning to South Sudan’s leadership, pressing for prioritized free and fair elections and transparent governance, failing which could result in the weight of historical judgement.

Today, United States Ambassador Michael J. Adler, representing the Troika, reiterated an unwavering commitment to South Sudan’s people and underscored fundamental principles following a meeting with the nation’s presidential affairs and foreign ministers on Monday.

Ambassador Adler reconfirmed that the Troika’s engagement with South Sudan had deep roots in shared principles such as peace, human rights, democracy, and governance that genuinely catered to the people’s needs rather than a privileged few.

“Our engagement to support the people of what is today South Sudan began decades ago, and it began truly as people-to-people engagement. It was and remains based on values including peace, human rights, democracy, and people’s right to a government that is responsive to their needs, not to that of a small elite,” Adler said. “We continue to look for signs that South Sudanese leaders share these values.”

Reaffirming the historical context of their support, Adler emphasized the necessity for these principles to be the cornerstone of South Sudan’s leadership actions.

Emphasizing a paramount indicator of this alignment, Adler stressed the imminent necessity for free, fair, and peaceful elections to be conducted by December of the current year.

He implored all leaders in South Sudan to prioritize this crucial step while unequivocally denouncing violence as a means of political competition.

“The best way for them to show this is for the transitional government to take the steps necessary to hold free, fair, and peaceful elections by December of this year,” he said.  “We urge all of South Sudan’s leaders to take these necessary steps, and we   urge them to reject violence as a tool for competition.”

Adler underscored that transparent utilization of public funds to address pressing societal needs was equally crucial.

This encompassed support for returning citizens, enhancements in healthcare and education, provision of essential services, and consistent payment of salaries to security personnel and civil servants.

Furthermore, Adler highlighted the significance of allocating resources toward vital electoral institutions to ensure a credible and reliable electoral process.

Grounding their engagement in a pursuit of peace and shared values, Adler sought visible signs of South Sudan’s leadership embracing these priorities, emphasizing the impending assessment of these actions by history and their commitment to fundamental principles.