South Sudan is set to hold its first-ever General Elections in December 2024 as the mandate of the extended Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGONU) brought about by a 2018 revitalized peace agreement comes to an end.
However, with less than six months in the lead-up to the polls, citizens in the restive Jonglei State and neighboring Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) have complained that the pre-election environment is not conducive and urged the government to address pending tasks for the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections.
Speaking on Radio Tamazuj’s weekly Road to Elections program, residents expressed mixed views about the scheduled elections with the majority skeptical about peaceful elections.
A Bor resident, Achol Mawei, said she is happy with the prospect of casting her vote for the first time since the country’s independence.
“I am happy with the upcoming elections in our country and I hope that it comes with peace and blessings. To our political leaders, please love yourselves and let us vote in peace,” she stated. “As a business lady, I want peace so that I can take care of my children. But if our leaders are not ready for elections, and they think it will be violent, then there is no need for elections which could bring us more suffering.”
Another resident, Kenya Mach, said there is nothing to suggest that there will be elections later this year apart from media advertisements.
“We are hearing on the media that there will be elections in December this year. It is not bad that the government is coming up with it because it is about us expressing our rights to vote after all,” she explained. “However, as we speak, the majority of our brothers and sisters have yet to be repatriated from refugee camps, we are yet to have a constitution, and a census is still not to be done, so we are doubtful.”
Mach added: “As women, we are ready for elections if it will end our suffering but we are anxious that we may see a repeat of 2013 because our political leaders are pulling ropes about the polls.”
For Nyany Korok, a resident of Pibor, elections are a constitutional requirement and they are prepared to vote.
“In Greater Pibor, we are ready for the elections. For elections to be possible, the government should however be serious. Firstly, we want peace across our seven counties because no one will go out to vote if they fear they will be killed,” she asserted. “Up to now, we are not seeing any electoral body here and there are no pre-election activities taking place. So the government should tackle prerequisites for us to vote and vote for peace and development.”
On his part, Bol Deng Bol, a civil society activist and Executive Director of Intrepid South Sudan (ISS) said the country’s anticipated polls stand at a crossroads.
“Several key requirements have yet to be met for us to have elections that align with international standards. We need a constitution to give us direction, we need voter registration and education, we also need civic space and there is no good security all over the country,” he noted. “So we still have a long way to go if we are to hold an election that would be free, fair, transparent and independent.”