Unity State governor endorses Kiir for 2023 elections

JUBA – The governor of South Sudan’s Unity State, Nguen Manytuil Wijang, has endorsed President Salva Kiir Mayardit for presidency during the elections expected to be conducted at the end of the transitional period in 2023, just two days after senior members of the ruling SPLM party visited the capital Bentiu.

In a statement, Governor Manytuil’s office said that the governor on Saturday endorsed Kiir for elections due for 2023, just days after the governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, and weeks after the governor of Eastern Equatoria state, endorsed him.

“SPLM Unity State Interim Chairperson Cde Dr Joseph Manytuil Wejang has on Saturday endorsed Cde. Salva Kiir Mayardit as “Flag Bearer” of SPLM in the upcoming general election,” the statement reads in part.

“In addition, Cde Monytuil stressed that despite the conflict that engulfed and impedes (sic) the party activities across the State, SPLM is emerging stronger than ever before in Unity State, dwelling on providing basic services to the people of Unity State,” the statement added.

It remains unclear if the election will go as planned as senior member of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party said President Salva Kiir Mayardit has hinted at postponing the polls over international opposition.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon from the capital Juba, the senior member of the ruling party who is a close ally of President Kiir said the South Sudanese head of state has hinted on several meetings of the ruling party for postponement of the vote beyond 2023.

“Now we have concluded that elections in 2023 will take the country back to war and the president has told party members during several occasions that elections won’t be possible that elections won’t be conducted next year,” the official said.

The official who spoke with certainty said the party sees the international opposition to conduct of elections as the main reasons as to why the vote shouldn’t go in 2023 as planned because and internationally opposed vote will create further conflict in the country.

“The international community does not want election to be conducted in 2023. The United Nations, the Troika, and other international friends, and enemies alike, have stated that there should be no elections needed because of the provisions of the agreement which have not been implemented,” he said.

“So, there is no way that we can go for an election where the elected government will not be internationally, and of course regionally, not be trusted and recognized because we have not implemented the road map for the agreement,” he added.