Violence inevitable in South Sudan if elections do not take place in 2024 – warns CEPO

JUBA, SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan civil society organization Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) is warning that violence will be inevitable if the national elections slated for end of transitional period in 2024 is not held as planned.

In a statement extended to Sudans Post this morning, CEPO Executive Director Edmund Yakani urged the transitional parliament to pass the elections act saying delaying it is a “way of dragging the country towards return to violence.”

“Without elections in December 2024, the political instability will raise and this will trigger breakout of more violent incidences,” Yakani said.

Yakani urged the leadership and members of the revitalized transitional national legislative assembly to pass the national elections act without any delay.

“The demonstration of political deficit in trust and confidence for holding free, fair, peaceful and credible elections among the top political leadership of the country is higher,” Yakani said.

“Delaying in accelerating the process for setting up both legal and institutional framework for holding credible, free and fair elections is actually another way of dragging the country towards return to violence,” he added.

The national elections amendment bill, 2023 is a law that sets out the framework for holding national elections in South Sudan. The act defines the composition and powers of the national elections commission, the process for registering voters, and the conduct of elections.

The passing of this act is essential for ensuring that the national elections in South Sudan are free, fair, and credible. The CEPO is urging the parliament to pass this act without any delay.

Yakani also called on the presidency to reconstitute the essential political transitional institutions namely the national elections commission and political parties’ council for holding of credible, free, fair and peaceful elections.

“CEPO Domestic Elections Watch initiative is urging the Parliament to pass both the national elections act, 2023 and the national Security services act, 2023 this week so that the presidency reconstitute the essential political transitional institutions namely the national elections commission and political parties council for holding of credible, free, fair and peaceful elections,” Yakani said.