USAID official calls for ‘genuine and peaceful’ elections in South Sudan

JUBA – A senior official of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is calling on the parties to the revitalized peace agreement in South Sudan to create the necessary conditions of conduct of “genuine and peaceful” elections.

USAID National Security Director Colin Thomas-Jensen made the remarks following his visit to South Sudan last week in which he was accompanied by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Enrique Roig, USAID Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator, Mark Billera.

According to Thomas-Jensen, the “purpose of our trip is to call for urgent action to create the conditions necessary for genuine and peaceful elections. These include addressing the lack of political and civic space, politically neutral and unified forces, and full funding and operationalization of necessary electoral institutions.”

The visiting United States official called for direct dialogue between all stakeholders such as President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Riek Machar who is also the leader of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO).

“To achieve this, we urge the launch of direct dialogue among transitional government leaders, including President Kiir, First Vice President Machar, and all members of the presidency, with the objective of making genuine and peaceful elections possible,” he said.

“Such dialogue would send an important signal to the South Sudanese people and to donor countries that South Sudan’s leaders are committed to peace and the rejection of violence as a tool for political competition,” he stressed.

Thomas-Jensen also reiterated the US and UN calls for exemption of the UN mission in South Sudan and other humanitarian agencies from government taxes, saying that government decision to impose taxes is diverting aid from the people of South Sudan.

“We also urge the full and immediate implementation of exemptions for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, and diplomatic missions,” he said.

“Those who seek to impose taxes, fees, and other inappropriate costs on humanitarian assistance are diverting aid away from South Sudanese people in need,” Thomas-Jensen added.

South Sudan has been grappling with internal conflict and instability since gaining independence in 2011. The peace agreement signed in 2018 between Kiir and Machar aimed to end five years of conflict and establish a transitional government after which the country goes for elections.

But progress towards implementing key provisions of the revitalized agreement, including those necessary for preparations and conduct for democratic elections, which would be the first since South Sudan gained independence, has been slow.

Numerous challenges, including security concerns, political tensions, and logistical obstacles, have hindered the process. The international community, including the United States, has been actively involved in supporting peace efforts and advocating for the full implementation of the agreement.

Efforts to create an environment conducive to free and fair elections include promoting political and civic space, ensuring the neutrality and unity of security forces, and providing adequate funding and support for electoral institutions.

Direct dialogue among transitional government leaders, as urged by the United States, is seen as essential for building trust and addressing key issues that could impact the electoral process.