A South Sudanese politician insisted on Sunday that elections would go ahead as planned in December, despite a threat by some parties to boycott the vote.
“Political parties are ready to go for elections, and those who do not want elections will be left behind,” said Mr Onyoti Adigo Nyikuac, leader of the Democratic Change party (DC).
Onyoti, who is also the Minister of Livestock and Fisheries in the unity government established under the 2018 peace agreement, was speaking at a cultural day of the Chollo community in Juba.
The national minister, an ally of President Salva Kiir, emphasized the importance of unity and harmony between the communities of South Sudan ahead of elections, urging the political parties to work together towards peaceful elections.
“We, the Chollo community, we want elections to take place. We want to elect the leaders we want, and the people should elect the president they want,” he said.” All the parties should participate in the election, but those who don’t want, it is up to them.”
The politician also highlighted South Sudan’s challenges, particularly economic hardships, saying the transitional government has recently held a meeting to address the economic crisis.
South Sudan is planning general elections in December this year to choose leaders to succeed the current unity government, which includes President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar.
In 2022, the parties to the 2028 peace deal said the transitional government would remain in power for another two years, delaying scheduled general elections.
However, several observers say it would only be possible to envision free, fair, and credible elections in December 2024 if all parties and stakeholders grab the bull by the horns and agree on a critical mass of decisions by the first quarter of 2024.
Last week, the opposition SPLM-IO, led by First Vice President Riek Machar, said it has established that preconditions for holding credible and free polls in December are not in place, threatening to boycott the upcoming elections.