Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, collectively referred to as the Troika in South Sudan, on Thursday, urged the transitional government to ensure the ongoing inter-party dialogue leads to genuine and peaceful elections.
Michael J. Adler, the U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan, speaking on behalf of the Troika during the RJMEC plenary meeting in Juba, called for inclusive dialogue that features all the top principals of the parties.
“We renew our call for leadership-level inter-party dialogue that includes the President, the First Vice President, and other leaders,” he stressed. “This dialogue should have the objective of making genuine and peaceful elections possible”
According to the extended roadmap of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement, South Sudan will conduct its first-ever General Elections in December 2024, however, most of the salient provisions of the peace agreement are yet to be implemented and the prerequisites and arrangements to credible, free and fair elections are glaringly missing. This has led to an inter-party dialogue to decide the fate of the elections.
“Such dialogue would send an important signal to the South Sudanese people, the non-signatory parties, and donor countries that South Sudan’s leaders are committed to peace and the rejection of violence as a tool for political competition,” the U.S. envoy stated.
As the country prepares for the December 2024 elections, Amb. Adler called on the South Sudanese leaders to set aside their interests and put the welfare of the people first.
“Those who seek to obstruct progress toward peace by adopting maximums should set aside their personal interests and put the welfare of the South Sudanese people first,” he stressed. “Beyond taking steps of credible and peaceful elections, we call on the transitional government to demonstrate its alignment with the values that drive our support through transparent use of public revenue to fund public needs, and by protecting its population from violence, including sexual and gender-based violence.”
“Such steps will help demonstrate sincere commitment to peace and a better future for all South Sudanese people,” the envoy reiterated.