South Sudan “not ready” for “free, fair” presidential election, UN mission head says

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir dissolved parliament in May, paving the way for an expanded and more inclusive legislature of 550 members.
(Image: REUTERS/Jok Solomun)

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — The head of the U.N. mission in South Sudan said the country is “not yet ready” to hold its first presidential election in the coming year.

Nicholas Haysom, head of UNMISS, during a meeting of The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, said he shared “frank views” expressed by some government officials, political parties, and civil society that the country was “at this point not ready” for “free, fair and credible elections.”

The mission head cited the lack of a reconstituted electoral body and a political parties council as reasons for skepticism.

The presidential election is viewed as a culmination of the peace agreement signed nearly five years ago^[1] to pull the world’s youngest nation out of fighting that killed some 400,000 people.

Haysom said “a conducive political and security environment is non-negotiable” for a free election.

“South Sudan can however make significant strides towards this December 2024 target with political will, adequate resourcing, and a commitment to create an appropriate political environment,” he said.

References

1. ^{^} of the peace agreement signed nearly five years ago (apnews.com)
2. ^{^} Code of Conduct (www.thestar.com)