A leading civil society group in South Sudan said the current security situation is not conducive to hold credible, free and fair elections, pointing out that the general elections will be held only when the situation becomes “conducive.”

In a statement extended to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said the ongoing conflict will not allow the upcoming general elections to meet democratic standards.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of CEPO, said the 2015 peace agreement requires reforms in the areas of legal frameworks and institutions to allow free and fair elections.

“The priority now is to extend the transitional period for a realistic timeline with clear defined milestones that are concrete with attached sanctions if violated by any of the parties to the peace agreement,” said Yakani.

“Going for elections in the current context of South Sudan is critical and not possible, specifically with issues of free movement, free political campaigns and safety and protection of contesting candidates and protection of the electoral processes by our security institutions,” he added.

CEPO called upon the East African regional bloc IGAD to prioritize the extension of the transitional period.

Last week, South Sudan’s Minister of Information Michael Makuei said the government was ready to hold general elections in 2018 despite insecurity.

He said the insecurity situation will not be an excuse for the people of South Sudan not to hold the 2018 elections.

Chapter 1, Article 16 of the signed peace agreement is about general elections in South Sudan. The agreement says that the President and First Vice President will agree on the formation of a National Elections Commission.

According to the 2015 peace deal, the elections must take place 60 days before the end of the transitional period, which will be in 2018.