Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi, a leading member of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), has hinted at a possible alliance with the ruling SPLM party in the lead-up to elections.
“I am happy because we have been invited to attend the SPLM rally. This confirms that the relationship between SSOA and SPLM is solid. This collaboration will facilitate our move for an alliance in the coming period,” Hussein Abdebagi said while speaking at the SPLM rally in Juba on Saturday.
The Vice-President for the Services Cluster expressed confidence in the conduct of general elections in December 2024 to give the people of South Sudan a chance to vote and choose their leaders in free and credible elections.
“I am also happy that the SPLM is going in the right direction to prepare for elections as agreed by the parties to the peace agreement. We came to attend the SPLM endorsement of President Salva Kiir to witness and support the event because it expresses the desire of the people,” he said.
The Vice-President also affirmed their readiness for general elections in December, stating,” I want to confirm to all the people of South Sudan that SSOA is ready and supports the conduct of elections in December of this year.”
“If there are some people saying that SSOA is not supporting the upcoming elections, I would like to tell them that we are ready. All the leaders of SSOA have come to attend this rally, and they support elections in December,” he stressed.
Abdelbagi, who is seen as a close ally of President Kiir, appealed to the transitional government to provide financial support to the National Elections Commission, the Political Parties Council, and the National Constitutional Review Commission to roll out their election plans.
The South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), which comprises several political parties, has yet to nominate its presidential candidate for the upcoming elections.
South Sudan has been facing another extension of the transitional period, with a key party to the 2018 agreement expressing doubt about the country’s ability to hold elections in December 2024.
First Vice President and SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar argues that it would be impossible unless the security sector reform is addressed and a permanent constitution is drafted.
The parties to the peace agreement extended the transitional period in August 2022 by 24 months after the implementation of critical tasks of the agreement remained behind schedule.