A high-level delegation from the National Elections Commission (NEC) is in Torit, the capital of Eastern Equatoria State, to meet with state executives, assembly members, political parties, civil society organizations, women and youth organizations.
The team will be in Torit up to Friday, 3rd May, to explain and consult with the population on elections-related issues.
The delegation comprises Mac Maika Deng, the Commissioner and Chief Elections Officer; George Lemi, the Commissioner and Supervisor for Information Technology, and Mr Joseph Juma Koroni.
NEC Spokesperson George Lemi told Radio Tamazuj that their visit was a follow-up on a letter dated 22nd January 2024 from the Office of President Salva Kiir through Minister of Presidential Affairs Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro. The letter covers issues around the allocation of office premises for the upcoming general elections.
“We are here to inspect and supervise and see if the properties of the State Elections Committee are there. From 2011 to 2010, we last met with the State Elections Committee’s staff to sensitize them to electoral activities and the challenges ahead of time. We are mandated by electoral law, the National Elections Act 2012, as amended in 2023, that the NEC will conduct general elections 60 days prior to the end of the transitional period,” he said.
He added, “We are a non-partisan, independent commission, mandated by our law under Transitional Constitution, Section 197. So, this will be our second declaration to Eastern Equatoria State for the money that has been given to us by the RTGoNU [Revitalized Transitional Government] which is 22 billion SSP as part of our budget. We are not politicians, and I term the National Election Commission as a ‘referee’ to the match, the game, which is 60 days prior to the end of the transitional period.”
Eastern Equatoria State Minister for Culture, Youth, and Sports Margret Idwa Okuye identified a building to be used by the commission to run its activities.
“We are availing you a building, not land, and we will go together, so you go and inspect, see what is inside, then you take it and confirm it. Of course, Africans believe in seeing, so I said, the building is already there,” she said.
Angelo Geri, the Minister of Fisheries and Animal Resources, questioned the rationale for the establishment of the State High Elections Committee with regard to staff recruitment.
“You said you came here for two reasons: to form the state high committee, which is very good. We have been waiting for that, and I don’t know how you are going to proceed. Are you going to advertise? Are you going to solicit these people? We want this election to succeed, and we were hoping you could get the best people. It would be good if you advertise and shortlist yourself, then get competent people and interview them because, from what you explained, the bulk of the work is here, not you guys in Juba. So, for it to succeed, you need to get competent people because now, if you leave the nomination maybe to some of us, people may select their relatives; you see that we need the best; we have competent people in Eastern Equatoria State,” Minister Geri said.
German Charles Ojok, the State Advisor on Economic Affairs, also questioned inequalities in the status of constituencies in the previous elections held in 2010.
“Mine is just a simple question, surely; from the previous constituencies, some areas were not mapped well; you will get around 5-6 payams to make a constituency. In some places, one payam qualifies as a constituency. Will this be amended so such mistakes do not reoccur?” He asked.
The parties to the peace agreement agreed in August 2022 to extend the transitional period, which is due to expire in February 2025. The parties are expected to hold general elections in December 2024.