“Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), in its violations of political and civic space report, highlighted several cases of human rights violations and attempts to block political space.
“All political parties’ leadership should warn their respective members not to attempt controlling of open civic and political space for their opponents in their strong political holds/constituency,” partly reads the report.
The report sought views of civil society activists, journalists, human rights defenders and politicians.
It cited a case in which members of the ruling party (SPLM) restricted the movement of their counterparts from the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) in Twic East County of Jonglei State.
Also highlighted in the report was the burning of SPLM T-shirts in Nyriol County of Jonglei State.
“The first threat towards use of restrictive civic and political space for triggering some parts of the country returning to violence is so much determined by the level of violations of civic and political space by the SPLM against the SPLM-IO and SPLM-IO against the SPLM,” it stated.
The report described restrictions of political and civic spaces as “aggressive and harmful.”
Further reflected in the report was deficit in trust and confidence among the parties and leaders.
This, it argued, poses a risk for the observation of peaceful and democratic standards of elections.
Notably is a rise in surveillance around media and civil society offices ahead of the 2024 elections.
The Ministry of Interior committee on elections security should get engaged on matters concerning the rise in surveillance around media and civil society offices by armed individuals in numberless vehicles, it noted.
Overall, eight violation of civic and political space were recorded from January and March 2024.
Recommendation were made for the orientation of political parties to understand the importance of and open civic and political spaces if the country is to witness peaceful and democratic elections.
