South Sudanese rebels say peace is priority not elections

January 17, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan’s opposition faction of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of the former vice-president, Riek Machar, has downplayed the government’s plan to hold elections on 30 June, saying achieving peace was a priority.

South Sudan’s rebel leader Riek Machar (Photo Reuters/Tiksa Negeri)

“This would be a partial election. It would be a dubious election meant to further entrench dictatorship,” said Machar’s spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak.

“Our leadership rejects this and asks the South Sudanese and the international community to reject it,” added the rebel official who was reacting to statements by South Sudan’s foreign affairs minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin on the government determination to hold elections despite the lack of international support to the process.

On Friday, Benjamin said he had received a message from the US government and several other countries informing South Sudan of their decision not to support the elections scheduled to take place between May and June.

Dak said the situation was not conducive for elections, adding priority should be given to restoration of peace and stability in the country through the ongoing peace process.

He stressed that elections would be organised and conducted at the end of a transitional period by a would-be transitional government of national unity.

He questioned whether such an election would succeed in the middle of the civil war in which at least half of the population cannot participate in the voting.

“They could not hold gubernatorial elections in Unity and Lakes states as stipulated in the transitional constitution due to insecurity claims. Two governors appointed have continued to unconstitutionally govern these states after the president removed elected governors,” he said.

“If the government could not hold elections in the two states for fear of insecurity then, now how come they dream of a successful general election in the middle of the countrywide crisis?” he further wondered.

Dak reminded that the transitional constitution, 2011, stipulated that elections should have been conducted in the two states within 60 days from the time the new governors were appointed.

He also argued that it was nearly two years now since the governors were appointed, challenging that if "the government’s priority was constitutional legitimacy over peace and security it would have conducted the states elections".

He however pointed out, saying the SPLM-IO had prioritised peace and stability through the peace process which would introduce reforms so as to conduct free and fair elections with participation of voters across the country.

South Sudanese civil society organisations and some western countries including the United States have voiced their rejection to the slated elections, saying peace should be the priority.

(ST)