A cross-section of the inhabitants of Eastern Equatoria State over the weekend expressed displeasure with mixed views over another possibility of extension of the transitional period in South Sudan and the tenure of the government.
Several of the citizens sounded out by Radio Tamazuj’s “Road to Elections Program” said another extension will only exacerbate the suffering of the already distraught citizens.
John Baptist Olara, a political analyst, said only genuine elections will end the current suffering of South Sudanese. He however called for the commencement of voter registration, campaigns across the country, and other vital preparations for the conduct of credible, free, and fair elections.
“It would only be good to extend the transitional period if the implementation of the pending issues was going smoothly, but as it is, there is no need for any extension and citizens of South Sudan should be given a chance to elect their leaders because people are suffering,” he said. “So, there should be no more extension. Voter registration should be done and people should also be given a chance to campaign, they should speed up so that elections can succeed.”
A resident of Kapoeta town who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons urged South Sudanese to support the government in the conduct of elections.
“In this agreement, all issues agreed by parties were supposed to be implemented and the duration given was enough but till today there are issues that have not been implemented. However, we need to go for elections because it is the only hope that will help us as South Sudanese,” she stated, “If the elections are not conducted, or if we keep extending, this same poor implementation of pending issues will remain. If key issues in the agreement remain few, they can still be implemented after elections. South Sudanese should join hands and decide on what will take the country forward.”
For her part, Kiden Rejoice a resident of Torit Town, however, said a further extension of the transitional period will enable the parties to implement key pending provisions of the peace agreement.
She however insisted that the current political leaders step down and allow a neutral body to lead the country during the extension.
“Our brothers and sisters who are still in the bush should come home so that we can jointly participate in the elections since there are signs of extending the period by two or more years,” she said. “Let our top leaders step down for someone new to lead the country so that we can see if there will changes because we are really suffering and only survive at the mercy of God. Someone else should act for the next two years and implement the pending issues in the agreement.”
On his part, Onyango Ben, a resident of Magwi Town, said there is a need to conduct a national population census to avoid cheating during the elections.
“If the parties do not reach a consensus on the extension of the peace agreement’s transitional period while others want elections to happen, it will not be good,” he stated. “Also, we are not ready for elections because we do not know the country’s population, and yet the period for preparations is too short. Other teams are still in Nairobi negotiating and have not reached an agreement.”
Conversely, Flora Sebit, a civil society activist who works for the Women Agency for Progress Organization (WAPO), welcomed the possibility of an extension of the transitional period and called on leaders to genuinely address the pending tasks.
“If the roadmap of the agreement is extended, and also looking at the ongoing peace talks in Nairobi, then there is no problem because we want all South Sudanese to be in a peaceful country. It is easy to implement the agreement if all the parties have the will, so, that when the elections are conducted, they will be peaceful,” she stressed. “However, we do not want the same faces of the leaders who have been taking us into conflicts. We want the election process to go peacefully. Till when shall we continue suffering?”