Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol, the chairman of the South Sudan Nation Elections Commission, says that elections next year in the country will require more resources.
“The Commission, with additional resources, can start in January to prepare for elections. The elections also need security, so the executive should look into those matters,” Akok told Radio Tamazuj in an interview today.
He further said all political parties and civil society organizations need to agree on next year’s elections once the transitional government comes to an end. “The Commission has its own strategic plans, but the executive is responsible for security and resources,” he said.
Abednego urged the coalition government to discuss the issue of elections immediately, saying plans on how to hold elections remain unclear.
According to Abednego, however, there is real progress in terms of constitutional amendments to pave way for the upcoming elections. He pointed out that his Commission will present a strategic plan on elections soon. “If the election law is not passed by the parliament, then it will not be possible to conduct elections,” he said.
Chapter 1, Article 16 of the signed peace agreement is about general elections in South Sudan. The agreement says that the President and First Vice President will agree on the formation of a National Elections Commission.
According to the 2015 peace deal, the elections must take place 60 days before the end of the transitional period, which will be in 2018.