Puok Both Baluang, SPLM-IO Director of Information and Public Relations, says that for a permanent constitution to be completed, the party signatories to the revitalized peace agreement need at least 24 months.
“For the parties to work on a permanent constitution, they need 24 months, according to the experts and the extension of the transitional period was done based on the recommendation of the experts,” he said during an interview with Radio Tamazuj.
South Sudan is set to go for its first elections in December 2024.
This is based on a peace road map for extension of the transitional period that was signed by the parties in August last year after failing to implement key provisions of the deal at the end of the first transitional period.
Baluang said that there is a lack of will to implement the revitalized peace deal and that the remaining time is not enough to implement all the pending tasks that includes drafting of a permanent constitution, and reunification of the rival forces.
“Also, if there were political will, we would have implemented the issue of security arrangements, including the deployment of the unified forces. The other challenge is the lack of political space besides the repatriation of the refugees,” he said.
“We believe that the remaining period is not enough to implement the pending tasks that will qualify us to hold free and fair elections,” he added.
The SPLM-IO is one of the two main signatories to the revitalized peace agreement, which was signed in 2018.
The agreement aims to end the civil war that has been raging in South Sudan since 2013 and prepare the country for elections, the first since the world’s youngest country gain independence from neighboring Sudan in July 2011.
The transitional period is scheduled to end in February 2025, and elections are expected two months before that time. However, there have been delays in the implementation of the peace agreement.
This has raised concerns that South Sudan may not be ready to hold elections by that time.
It may be right, infect we the people of South Sudan need all these two Parties leave the government and International community Transition will be initiated for two years only to fix all remaining task because the two Parties are competing they are not there to solve the suffering of South Sudanese.
Talking about elections in South Sudan is not realistic. Where is the peace and security in the country?
Repatriation of refugees – are the conditions that drove refugees away suddenly disappeared because elections are going to take place? Why are those camped in POCS not repatriated home? Wes know the reasons- insecurity!
Constitution, census, Parties Commission and Electoral Commission are absent!
Insecurity is rampant- Dinka armed cattle keepers are on killing spree in Equatoria Region.
To get things right for elections to take place, four to five years are required to enable refugees and internally displaced people settle down and produce food for themselves and to allow for infrastructure and peace to prevail.
But all these to prevail, a different Transitional government composed of technocrats, who shall not contest elections, assisted by the United Nations and the African Union shall prepare the country for the elections.
The suggested Transitional Government will not only prepare the country for elections, but carry out basic development projects: open up roads to make them passable, agriculture and animal husbandry be the main focus to enable the people feed themselves, focus on health ; primary health care – prevention is better than
cure.
Water and sanitation, education and solar power insulation in health and educational institutions.
These basic social services are crucial and can be achieved in five years.
Elections shall be free and fair thereafter.
I personal agreed wth Puok Both Baluang that, let the all peace chapters be fully implemented and then peoples talk for general elections in the country of ours south Sudan, as we all know that in any polls or elections ought to be conducted where there is what so call political space, as per now is there any conducive environment which would allowed political parties to conduct their political activities both in Juba and the entire states at the moment?
To me I can say if the IG or Kiir party continues for its unilateral decision to me it could be a revocation or abrogation of current peace accord which would actually tried to end the ongoing civil war in the Country, in fact, it would be the peoples of South Sudan who can stand-up and choose between war and peace.
For elections to take place,there should be freedom of all the parties to exercise their manefestos
infact I concur with the statement of Mr baluang because there’s many important issues which are yet to be completed and which could make it impossible for free and fair election to be conducted when these critical tasks are not met.
but the point here is that all the parties to the agreement are begging more time to stay longer in their positions.
they’re are not intending it for the remaining tasks to be fulfilled.
it’s not the first time to beg time while still nothing is being done when time is given.