South Sudan’s Information Minister, Michael Makuei, has reiterated the transitional government’s commitment to hold free and fair elections in December 2024.
Radio Tamazuj caught up with him and sounded him out about the plans and prerequisites for elections, including security arrangements and political space.
Below are edited excerpts:
Q: Hon Minister Michael Makuei, what are the latest updates on government plans for elections next year?
A: Well, we have been very clear that the elections will take place as scheduled in December 2024. So, those who still say that there are some pending critical tasks before elections are those who do not want elections to take place. But I want to tell the public that there will be elections and there is no any reason that the elections should be delayed again.
Yes, I know that there are some people who also say that there is Chapter 2 of the peace agreement, which is the security arrangements, and it has not been implemented fully and that is why elections should not take place. I can say that everything is good and plans are being worked on. The first batch of the unified forces who graduated will be deployed and the second batch will go for training and they will be graduated and deployed.
According to the peace agreement, the security of the elections will be handled by the police and training for the police force does not require a lot of time. So within one month or two months, the police that will provide security during the polls will be trained and graduated.
Q: But there have been concerns over the lack of civic and political space and there are reports that some politicians are not allowed to move freely. For example, many people say Dr Riek Machar is confined in Juba. What is your comment as a government spokesman?
A: Well, that is untrue. Those are unfounded rumours spread by people who want to mislead the public. How can a first vice president be confined? Please direct your question to Dr. Riek Machar to say whether he is under confinement or not. If you have access to Dr. Riek Machar, please interview him and ask him so that he can say it. If the staff at the office of the first vice president can be allowed to travel abroad without restriction, then how can the first vice president himself be blocked from travelling or moving? Those who claim that the first vice president Riek Machar is not free in Juba are people who want to obstruct the peace process. They want to cause issues and problems.
Q: What is the plan for the National Elections Commission once the Elections Bill is passed by Parliament?
A: On the issue of the National Elections Commission, it will be constituted soon and by the way, this is not a new institution. The staff who will manage elections just need one week to two weeks of training and that is it. They will be trained on voter registration and other things related to election management, and this does not need a lot of time.
Q: Minister Makuei, the Political Parties Council is yet to be constituted. What is the obstacle?
A: Well, the problem is the political parties themselves because they do not want to move. We did not stop any party from preparing itself before the Political Parties Council is established. The parties can start registering for membership so that they can qualify for registration at the Political Parties Council when the process starts officially. So we did not block any party from carrying out its activities. But there are some parties which have already started registering their membership in some parts of the country and they have started to conduct their conferences. The Political Parties Act stipulates that for a political party to be registered in South Sudan, it must have a presence in seven states with at least 500 members in seven states. So when the registration is done, that is when campaigns will start officially.
Q: Hon. Minister, does it mean that the activities being carried out by unregistered parties are legal?
A: You know our time is very limited. Political parties can now start registering their membership across the country and move. Some people are saying the Political Parties Council should be constituted first, then the parties can start carrying out their activities, but that is not the case because it will delay the process. We do not want delays.
Q: As you mentioned earlier that plans are in place for elections. Does the government have enough resources for elections?
A: I know there are people who are trying to mislead the public by talking about things that are not there one year and a half ahead of elections. Not everything can be available right now; we still have ample time for all those things.
Q: As a government, when are you planning to deploy the unified forces and what plans do you have for the security arrangements?
A: The security arrangements are ongoing as part of the peace agreement. It is a process, not an event. If it is a process, then it will move systematically until it is complete.
Q: What is your message to the public as we conclude the interview?
A: My message to the South Sudanese population is that I want to tell those who still doubt that there will be elections next year that please do not doubt it. Elections will take place as scheduled and people should prepare to vote in the elections. If you do not want to vote or to take part in elections, that is up to you, it is your right. Thank you.