Governor Cleto calls for freedoms of speech, association

Western Bahr el Ghazal Governor Sarah Cleto Hassan Rial addressing the press at the 6th Governors' Forum in Juba on 29 November 2022. [Photo: Radio Tamazuj]

The Governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal State has called for political space for all parties in South Sudan to enjoy the freedoms of expression and association in preparations for democratic elections. 

South Sudan is expected to hold its first elections since independence in December 2024, according to a framework agreement signed by peace parties in August this year.

Addressing the media on the sidelines of the ongoing Governor's Forum at the Freedom Hall in Juba, Sarah Cleto Rial called on parties to respect dissenting voices through the exercise of civic and political freedoms. 

“Any party that has been registered has the rights and should be given rights to contest in the elections and if everyone works for free and fair elections there will be a democracy. Let us not underlook other parties, some will say I am from this big party, I am from a very strong political party we have to put these things aside” Cleto said. 

She stressed that a government without opposition is weak and cannot progress. 

“Respect all the other political parties, respect their views, give them space. For me in the state, every party has the political space that is encouraging democracy, there are different views and if there is no opposition then the government cannot move well," she said. "Even those days when the party was still one, there was opposition. For us in the government, there are many opposition parties and people are working together along with our leader Salva Kiir." 

For his part, the Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Tong Akeen Ngor revealed that the state is prepared for the elections comes 2024. 

“We have an elections commission office in Aweil and they can move around and have their commissioners. Regarding elections, we are ready and everything in the state is in place,” he said.    

Last week, the National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC)  presented the amended National Elections Act 2012 and the Southern Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. 

The justice ministry is expected to present the bills to the cabinet and the national parliament before it is presented to the president to assent them into law.