![Dr. Abednego Akol Chol, Chair of the South Sudan National Elections Commission (NEC), addresses reporters at a press conference in his Juba office. The event followed the Commission's swearing-in ceremony at the presidency on Monday, January 8, 2024. [Photo by Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/80664f65-6952-46cf-a6de-f77a56d082fe.jpeg?resize=1515%2C757&ssl=1)
During a meeting with President Salva Kiir Mayardit at the statehouse J1, Kachuol made the request, as outlined in a statement issued by the office of the president following their discussions.
“President Salva Kiir Mayardit, on Wednesday (24th January 2024) met with the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Prof. Abednego Akok Kachuol, to discuss the preparations for the general elections in December this year,” the statement said.
According to the statement, Kachuol emphasized that the meeting centered on “important priorities for the electoral body,” with a primary focus on the “release of the elections budget to prepare the ground for the timely conduct of general elections.”
South Sudan is poised to hold its inaugural elections in December of this year.
However, key signatories of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement, namely the SPLM-IG and the SPLM-IO, are at odds over the election’s feasibility.
While President Kiir, head of the SPLM-IG, advocates for the polls to proceed, Machar, the leader of the SPLM-IO, contends that the country is not adequately prepared for elections, citing unfulfilled provisions of the agreement concerning the electoral process.
