U.S. diplomat urges South Sudan leaders to expedite efforts for credible elections

JUBA, OCTOBER 27, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan Michael J. Adler has called on South Sudan’s political leaders to accelerate steps necessary for conduct of free and peaceful elections in December 2024.

Adler in statements to journalists following a meeting with South Sudan’s minister of justice and constitutional affairs Ruben Madol Arol on Thursday said he discussed with the minister the institution’s responsibility to ensure peaceful and credible elections.

“We discussed the ministry’s important responsibility to support steps necessary for credible and peaceful elections. We discussed in particular steps necessary for political and civil space and for political neutral security forces,” he said.

The U.S. diplomat underscored importance of the world’s youngest country to hold a credible, free, fair and peaceful elections in December 2024.

“I underscore the urgency of meeting step necessary for credible and peaceful elections to occur by December 2024,” he said.

For his part, justice ministry’s undersecretary Gabriel Issac Awow said the meeting discussed the role of the ministry of justice in the implementation of the peace agreement.

“They (Amb. Adler and Minister Madol) discussed issues of concern between the America government and the Republic of South Sudan especially the issues related to mandate of Ministry of Justice,” Awow said.

“As he (ambassador) said they discussed progress and the issue of conducting elections and the mandate of the ministry of justice in the implementation of the peace agreement,” he added.

The polls, now scheduled for December 2024, will be South Sudan’s first since gaining independence from Sudan in July 2011.

With less than two years away from the elections conduct, the parties to the revitalized peace agreement have not yet reconstituted key electoral institutions.

These include the National Elections Commission, National Constitutional Review Commission, the Political Parties Council, among other institutions.