Juba, South Sudan
November 24,2021— South Sudan First Vice President and leader of the main armed opposition, Dr. Machar Teny Dhuron, doubts if there will be free and fair elections in 2023 given the slow implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement in the country.
According to the implementation matrix of the Revitalized Peace Agreement signed in September 2018, South Sudan was supposed to go for elections in 2022 after implementation of key provisions of the agreement; however, that does not seems to be a possibility.
The key provisions include unification of the former warring forces, repatriation of the refugees and displaced persons, conduct of population census and development of the country’s permanent constitution.
Speaking during the opening of the Governors’ Forum in Juba on Friday, FVP Dr. Machar said for the country to conduct a free and credible election, the security arrangements should be implemented at least to monitor the security and to minimize rigging.
“For us to have fair, free, transparent elections, you must have security forces who will protect the state, its people and that will not interfere with the electoral process,” Dr. Riek said during the Governors’ forum.
He said If the country were to have for credible elections, the parties must must full implement the security arrangement without further delay.
Machar stressed that the internally and externally displaced persons are not coming home because no progress has been made so far on the security arrangement, adding that once they see the security arrangement implemented, they will voluntarily move out of the IDPs camps.
“They want to come back to a secure environment. They don’t want to come back to an environment when they see they might run back for refuge.”, FVP added.
Machar also said, the Political Parties Act of 2012 must be reviewed and approved by the parliament to enable free and democratic registration of political parties in South Sudan.
On his part, the president told a delegation of the UN Security Council last week that he has been the only politician advocating for elections although he is the president.
President Kiir also accused the First Vice President of dragging his feet on security arrangement, saying Machar is not submitting the required list to his office.
