The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) on Monday urged the national parliament to demand an inclusive political dialogue to build consensus for the elections slated for December 2025.
According to the civil society outfit, the process of parties’ consultations on holding the inclusive political dialogue is dragging, and this will contribute to delaying political leadership decisions for holding the elections.
CEPO Executive Director Edmund Yakani said the national parliament should take a proactive role in demanding an urgent, genuine, and inclusive political dialogue on elections consensus building before the meeting of the United Nations Security Council scheduled for 30 April 2024 on the status of South Sudan’s elections.
“The confrontational political debates and release of political statements by the political parties on the road towards December 2024 elections are dragging the country to return to violence faster than securing genuine elections,” the statement read in part. “CEPO is urging parliament to save the country from returning to violence due to disagreements, misunderstandings, or lack of political consensus on holding the forthcoming national general elections.”
“The parliament should summon the leadership of the reconstituted National Elections Commission to explain what essential political leadership decisions are required for creating a conducive environment for holding the forthcoming December 2024 general elections.” It added.
According to Yakani, holding only executive elections for the president and state governors first would be a total violation of the amended Elections Act and it has many legal implications that could drag the country back to war.
“For the last three weeks, the political climate in the country has been dominated by misinformation, hostile propaganda, fake news, hate speech, and political language that is pro-violence. This has contributed to raising public mistrust and lack of confidence in the country holding democratic and peaceful elections by December 2024,” Yakani stressed. “Pro-violence voices are increasing demonstrated by some social media platforms users. Although reasonable voices are calling for democratic and holding of peaceful elections through a national political consensus.”