The Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) Lam Akol has ruled out the possibility of elections in South Sudan before peace, saying the conflict that engulfed South Sudan since last year needs to be resolved.

In an interview broadcast on Radio Tamazuj on Saturday, Akol responded to government announcements that general elections will be held in late June.

Akol said that elections are a democratic right but he wondered who will be able vote if about 2 million people are displaced and whether the security situation will be stable enough and conducive for elections.

“It is very clear that during democratic elections it is the people who will vote but due to war situation, people are displaced. About two million are displaced and areas are not secured – then who will vote? So elections can’t be held under these circumstances.”

South Sudan’s ruling party SPLM-Juba is scrambling to prepare for elections because the constitutional legitimacy of their leader Salva Kiir ends in July 2015.

South Sudan’s constitution states in Article 100, “The tenure of the office of the President of the Republic of South Sudan shall be four years, commencing from July 9, 2011.”

In addition to elections preparations, the SPLM faction headed by Kiir earlier announced plans for a party convention, because in order for Kiir to contest for the presidency as the SPLM party candidate, he would first have to be reelected as chairman of the party at a party convention.

To hold an election without first holding an SPLM Convention would potentially be a blow to Kiir’s legitimacy because the 2008 SPLM constitution stipulates that a convention must be held to elect the chairman of the party. The party constitution also says party conventions must be held every five years – a deadline that has passed.

Related:

Kiir loyalist announces SPLM convention for January (24 Sept.)