Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the Deputy Chairman of the SPLM-IO and also the First Deputy Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), highlighted concerns over the distribution of funds for pre-election activities to various institutions.
He referenced a recent statement made by Hon. James Akol Zakayo, the Chairperson of the Political Parties Council (PPC), on April 4, 2024, as reported by Eye Radio, confirming that both the Political Parties Council and the National Elections Commission had received funding for pre-election activities.
Oyet stated, “It is worth noting that electoral institutions, including the Political Parties Council, have been allocated sufficient resources necessary for elections. This is an official statement from me confirming that the necessary resources for elections have been provided.”
However, he expressed apprehension that certain crucial institutions related to elections had not received funding. These include the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC), the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Ministry of Interior (responsible for Elections Security), the National Transitional Committee (NTC), and the Security Mechanisms.
Oyet emphasized that during a regular meeting on February 9, 2024, the Council of Ministers passed a Supplementary Budget for six critical elections-related institutions. The allocations were as follows: National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC): USD 23.7 million out of the requested USD 43 million. Political Parties Council (PPC) USD 16.3 million out of the requested USD 60 million. National Elections Commission (NEC) USD 27.2 million out of the requested USD 230.5 million. National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) USD 12.1 million out of the requested USD 107 million. National Transitional Committee (NTC) USD 9.4 million out of the requested USD 130 million. Elections Security by Ministry of Interior USD 13.6 million out of the requested USD 105 million.
Oyet further clarified, “Based on the information provided, only two institutions have received funds as outlined below: Political Parties Council USD 5 million out of the targeted supplementary budget of USD 16 million. National Elections Commission USD 15 million out of the targeted supplementary budget of USD 27 million.”
He elaborated, “We believe this selective allocation of funds is a deliberate attempt to undermine the crucial institutions outlined in the Agreement necessary for conducting elections. It underscores a lack of political will to fully implement the R-ARCSS in both letter and spirit.”
Expressing concern about the fate of the Supplementary Budget approved by the Council of Ministers to support pre-election activities, Oyet highlighted that it should have been the Parliament’s top priority at the beginning of the session. He noted an apparent evasion tactic to avoid presenting the Supplementary Budget to Parliament.
Concluding his statement, Oyet urged the Minister of Finance and Planning to promptly submit the targeted Supplementary Budget to Parliament for approval.
A revitalised peace agreement was reached in September 2018, but South Sudan has never held elections as government officials have postponed them multiple times. Elections are scheduled for December 2024, but peace monitors and observers say the government hasn’t built up the structure necessary to hold free and fair elections.